Ethnic identity as a phenomenon of human nature has a mobile nature, which depends on various factors that accompany a person's life. The author analyses this aspect of ethnic identity, which is closely related to the term "transformation". It is analysed this term in order to further substantiate the significance of the process of transformation of ethnic identity into an all-Russian civic identity. The study is based on the analysis of the relationship of ethnic identity with such factors as the natural and biological maturation of the individual, the emotional and evaluative attitude of the individual to his identity, external historical and cultural events. These factors, as the analysis showed, determine two key scenarios for the transformation of ethnic identity. The first scenario is associated with the process of transformation of ethnic identity with respect to positive ethnic identity, recognized as the norm of interethnic interaction. This process is realized within one form of identity, in particular ethnic. The second scenario assumes the participation of a different form of identity, in particular the all-Russian one. Much attention is paid by the author to the correlation of these forms of identities, different points of view of individual scientists on this issue are given. The significance of such a form of identity, which combines both the values of ethnic identity and the all-Russian civic identity, is substantiated. Such a process of transformation of ethnic identity into an all-Russian civic identity involves the generation of a new supra- ethnic identity, in which the traditional ethnic identity does not disappear anywhere, but becomes the basis for the adoption of other, in particular civic all-Russian values.