The risk of cardiovascular diseases is closely related to the lifestyle of a person and, first of all, to behavioral risk factors. The inclusion of dairy products in the daily diet is shown to have a protective effect against most of chronic non-communicable diseases. The intake of dairy products differs significantly among different ethnic groups within the same country; this holds true for not only the frequency of consumption, but also the choice of the fat content of dairy products. Objective — to investigate the ethnic characteristics of dairy product consumption among the rural residents of two countries: Russia and the Kyrgyz Republic. Material and methods. The study was conducted within the framework of the international Interepid project. This is a one-stage epidemiological study of the prevalence of major chronic non-communicable diseases and risk factors for their development among the residents of small towns and rural areas in the two countries (Russia and Kyrgyz Republic). Data on the nature of nutrition were collected using a food frequency questionnaire consisting of a list of major food groups. This study estimated the frequency of consumption of dairy products daily (milk, kefir, and yogurt) and weekly (curd and cheese). Results. Dairy products of all kinds are most often present in the diet among the residents of the Samara region, whereas the population more frequently chooses low-fat foods. The indigenous people of the Kyrgyz Republic most often eat milk and fermented milk products. The intake of liquid dairy products is higher among the indigenous people of the Kyrgyz Republic (both among men and women). The consumption of denser dairy products, such as curd and cheese, is more popular in the Russian population living in the Kyrgyz Republic. Conclusion. This study demonstrates ethnic differences in the consumption of dairy products among the native and Russian residents of the Kyrgyz Republic, but the greatest differences were found when comparing the Russian population of the Samara Region and the Kyrgyz Republic.