Three novel species of Russula Pers. subg. Compactae (Fr.) Bon from southern China are described with morphological evidence and phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and the concatenated partial LSU, mtSSU, rpb1, rpb2 and tef1 gene sequences. All three species possess sparse and broad lamellae. Russula latolamellata Y.Song & L.H.Qiu, sp. nov., is characterized by its cracking, black-tan pileus, scarlet-turning context on bruising and absence of pileocystidia and caulocystidia. Russula nigrocarpa S.Y.Zhou, Y.Song & L.H.Qiu, sp. nov., can be distinguished by its off-white lamellae, small basidiospores, hymenial cystidia and pileocystidia of various forms, often with forked apices and by its gelatinous pileipellis. Russula ochrobrunnea S.Y.Zhou, Y.Song & L.H.Qiu, sp. nov., is characterized by its cracking, grayish brown pileus with striate margin, light-brown lamellae whose edges turn dark-brown when mature, small basidiospores and slightly flexuous ormoniliform hymenial cystidia. Their detailed morphological features and phylogenetic positions are discussed and compared among closely related species.