Russia participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016 which took place on 20 November 2016, in Valletta, Malta. The Russian broadcaster Russia-1, owned by the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) was responsible for organising their entry for the contest. Sofia Fisenko won the national final on 16 August 2016 with the song "Zhivaya voda" (Russian: Живая Вода). On 6 October, the Russian organisation team opted to change the name of the entrant to Water of Life Project, with the song also changing to "Water of Life".