Relevance. In the context of increasing geopolitical tensions in the world the development of Russian cultural identity of students in foreign language classes is of particular importance. Modern Russian society needs competent, creative and active specialists, whose training will not be relevant and sufficient without acquiring knowledge not only about the culture of the countries of the language being studied, but also about their own culture. In the current situation, a foreign language has priority importance as a means of intercultural communication and generalization of the spiritual heritage of the countries and peoples of the studied and native languages.

The Research problem: what are the principles of development of Russian cultural identity that contribute to the formation of foreign language communicative competence? The purpose of the research is to substantiate the implementation of the principles of development of Russian cultural identity of technical university students in foreign language classes that contribute to the formation of foreign language communicative competence. The research methods used include pedagogical observation, study of psychological and pedagogical literature, retrospective analysis of teaching activities, assessment, study of the work experience of teachers of higher educational institutions. The results of the research are the following: the role of a foreign language in the formation of Russian cultural identity of students has been determined; principles for the development of Russian cultural identity of students in foreign language classes at a university have been formulated and examples of their implementation given. Key conclusions: the principles of ethnocultural orientation of teaching and the use of PR technologies in foreign language classes, the purpose of which is the development of the Russian cultural identity of students at a technical university, contribute to the formation of foreign language communicative competence.