diff --git a/rust/BUILD b/rust/BUILD
index f927c3daf3..bf2703a438 100644
--- a/rust/BUILD
+++ b/rust/BUILD
@@ -38,6 +38,18 @@ rust_library(
         "//conditions:default": ["--cfg=cpp_kernel"],
     }),
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+    deps = [":protobuf_lite"],
+)
+
+rust_library(
+    name = "protobuf_lite",
+    srcs = ["protobuf_lite.rs"],
+    edition = "2024",
+    rustc_flags = select({
+        ":use_upb_kernel": ["--cfg=upb_kernel"],
+        "//conditions:default": ["--cfg=cpp_kernel"],
+    }),
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
     deps = select({
         ":use_upb_kernel": [":protobuf_upb"],
         "//conditions:default": [":protobuf_cpp"],
@@ -83,6 +95,7 @@ ALL_RUST_SRCS = PROTOBUF_SHARED + [
     "gtest_matchers.rs",
     "gtest_matchers_impl.rs",
     "protobuf.rs",
+    "protobuf_lite.rs",
     "upb_kernel/conversions.rs",
     "upb_kernel/extension.rs",
     "upb_kernel/interop.rs",
@@ -146,15 +159,26 @@ rust_test(
 # This provides an identical set of re-exports as `:protobuf` with `:use_upb_kernel` active.
 # This is only used for tests shared between runtimes.
 rust_library(
-    name = "protobuf_upb_export",
+    name = "protobuf_upb_lite_export",
     testonly = True,
-    srcs = ["protobuf.rs"],
+    srcs = ["protobuf_lite.rs"],
     edition = "2024",
     rustc_flags = ["--cfg=upb_kernel"],
     visibility = [":protobuf_internal"],
     deps = [":protobuf_upb"],
 )
 
+rust_library(
+    name = "protobuf_upb_export",
+    testonly = True,
+    srcs = ["protobuf.rs"],
+    aliases = {"//rust:protobuf_upb_lite_export": "protobuf_lite"},
+    edition = "2024",
+    rustc_flags = ["--cfg=upb_kernel"],
+    visibility = [":protobuf_internal"],
+    deps = [":protobuf_upb_lite_export"],
+)
+
 # The Rust Protobuf runtime using the cpp kernel.
 #
 # `rust_cpp_proto_library` implicitly depends on this target. This target cannot depend on
@@ -204,15 +228,26 @@ rust_test(
 # This provides an identical set of re-exports as `:protobuf` with `:use_upb_kernel` inactive.
 # This is only used for tests shared between runtimes.
 rust_library(
-    name = "protobuf_cpp_export",
+    name = "protobuf_cpp_lite_export",
     testonly = True,
-    srcs = ["protobuf.rs"],
+    srcs = ["protobuf_lite.rs"],
     edition = "2024",
     rustc_flags = ["--cfg=cpp_kernel"],
     visibility = [":protobuf_internal"],
     deps = [":protobuf_cpp"],
 )
 
+rust_library(
+    name = "protobuf_cpp_export",
+    testonly = True,
+    srcs = ["protobuf.rs"],
+    aliases = {"//rust:protobuf_cpp_lite_export": "protobuf_lite"},
+    edition = "2024",
+    rustc_flags = ["--cfg=cpp_kernel"],
+    visibility = [":protobuf_internal"],
+    deps = [":protobuf_cpp_lite_export"],
+)
+
 cc_library(
     name = "cpp_api",
     srcs = [
diff --git a/rust/protobuf.rs b/rust/protobuf.rs
index d7f9bff9a7..d2fa10a310 100644
--- a/rust/protobuf.rs
+++ b/rust/protobuf.rs
@@ -1,34 +1,13 @@
 // Protocol Buffers - Google's data interchange format
-// Copyright 2023 Google LLC.  All rights reserved.
+// Copyright 2024 Google LLC.  All rights reserved.
 //
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
 // license that can be found in the LICENSE file or at
 // https://developers.google.com/open-source/licenses/bsd
 
-//! Rust Protobuf Runtime
+//! Rust Protobuf Full Runtime
 //!
-//! This file exists as the public entry point for the Rust Protobuf runtime. It
-//! is a thin re-export of the `shared.rs` file but is needed for two reasons:
-//! - To create a single `protobuf` crate name for either cpp and upb kernels
-//!   from user code (toggled at compile time).
-//! - Blocks the __internal module from being re-exported to application code,
-//!   unless they use one of our visibility-restricted targets (gencode does
-//!   have access to them).
+//! This crate re-exports the `protobuf` lite runtime and (in the future) adds reflection
+//! traits and heavy APIs (like text formatting) that are banned in `lite` mode.
 
-#[cfg(cpp_kernel)]
-use protobuf_cpp as kernel;
-
-#[cfg(upb_kernel)]
-use protobuf_upb as kernel;
-
-/// Block these two mods from being re-exported by the `pub use`
-/// below (glob use automatically only adds things that aren't otherwise
-/// defined).
-///
-/// By creating a const instead of an empty mod it is easier to have a test
-/// that confirms this targeted 'blocking' is working as intended.
-#[doc(hidden)]
-#[allow(non_upper_case_globals)]
-pub const __internal: () = ();
-
-pub use kernel::*;
+pub use protobuf_lite::*;
diff --git a/rust/protobuf_lite.rs b/rust/protobuf_lite.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..23f12f154b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rust/protobuf_lite.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// Protocol Buffers - Google's data interchange format
+// Copyright 2026 Google LLC.  All rights reserved.
+//
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file or at
+// https://developers.google.com/open-source/licenses/bsd
+
+//! Rust Protobuf Runtime
+//!
+//! This file exists as the public entry point for the Rust Protobuf runtime. It
+//! is a thin re-export of the `shared.rs` file but is needed for two reasons:
+//! - To create a single `protobuf` crate name for either cpp and upb kernels
+//!   from user code (toggled at compile time).
+//! - Blocks the __internal module from being re-exported to application code,
+//!   unless they use one of our visibility-restricted targets (gencode does
+//!   have access to them).
+
+#[cfg(cpp_kernel)]
+use protobuf_cpp as kernel;
+
+#[cfg(upb_kernel)]
+use protobuf_upb as kernel;
+
+/// Block these two mods from being re-exported by the `pub use`
+/// below (glob use automatically only adds things that aren't otherwise
+/// defined).
+///
+/// By creating a const instead of an empty mod it is easier to have a test
+/// that confirms this targeted 'blocking' is working as intended.
+#[doc(hidden)]
+#[allow(non_upper_case_globals)]
+pub const __internal: () = ();
+
+pub use kernel::*;