In the time of fast technology growth, digitalization is transforming the landscape of many businesses. However, the antecedents of digital adoption within small and medium-sized enterprises in crisis are yet not fully understood. This study’s objective is to pinpoint factors that influence entrepreneurs’ intentions to utilize digital technologies in times of COVID-19 crisis in the Russian Federation. The study is based on the theory of planned behaviour. The analytical procedures performed on the data involved logistic regression modelling. This research draws on the Russian part of the 2021 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Database (GEM) Adult Population Survey which measures the level and nature of entrepreneurial activity in different countries. Perceived behavioural control was revealed to be a key determinant of the intention towards digital technologies’ adoption – entrepreneur’s perception of opportunities and self-efficacy positively affects their intention to adopt digital technologies during a crisis. Notably, previous experience with digital technologies had a negative impact during the crisis. Further, an individual’s age inversely affects their tendency to pursue digital entrepreneurial initiatives. The research extends the theory of planned behaviour to volatile contexts and signals how entrepreneurs can adapt to upheavals during crises through digitalization, thus advancing understanding of entrepreneurial behaviour under extremities