Russian dialling breaks two rules that hold almost everywhere else, and both catch people out.
The trunk prefix is 8, not 0. A domestic long-distance call inside Russia is 8 + area code + number, so applying the usual leading-zero rule will fail.
The international access code is written 8~10. The tilde is not decoration — it means wait for a second dial tone. Dial 8, wait, then 10, then the country code.
From abroad, none of that applies: dial +7 followed by the ten-digit number, with no 8 in front.
Dial Russia directly through your phone carrier using country code 7 — convenient, but international rates can add up fast.
Prepaid calling cards let you reach Russia at lower rates, though you'll juggle access numbers and PINs each time.
MeraTalk connects you to Russia over the internet with HD-clear audio, low rates, and no hardware to set up.
Dial 011, then 7, then the number, dropping the leading 0.
On a mobile you can replace the exit code with a + sign and dial +7 directly, which works from any country without knowing the local exit code.
Full dialing sequence
Start by dialing your own country's international access code. From the US or Canada this is 011; from most of Europe it's 00. This tells your network you're making an international call.
Immediately follow with Russia's country code — no spaces or dashes. This routes your call to Russia's telephone network. On smartphones, replace the exit code with a + sign.
Add the city or regional code for your destination in Russia. If the local number starts with a 0 (trunk prefix), drop it — the country code replaces it when dialing internationally.
Enter all remaining digits of the local number exactly as written. For mobile numbers, include every digit — no abbreviations. Press call and your carrier does the rest.
A strong, stable internet connection is the foundation of every clear call — use Wi-Fi or solid data whenever you can.
A quality headset sharpens both ends of the conversation, making your calls to Russia clearer and more comfortable.
Keep the time difference in mind — UTC+2 to UTC+12 — so you reach people at a reasonable hour and not in the middle of the night.
The price of calling Russia swings widely depending on whether you use a carrier, a calling card, or VoIP — and VoIP usually wins.
How to get started with MeraTalk
Phone numbers in Russia follow set ranges after the 7 country code, distinguishing mobiles, landlines, and special services.
+7 is shared between Russia and Kazakhstan — it was the Soviet Union's country code, and these are the only two successor states still using it. The digits that follow tell you which country you are looking at:
Russian numbers are ten digits after the country code. From abroad, dial +7 and the full ten digits — do not add the 8 used for domestic long-distance calls inside Russia.
112 reaches the general emergency line from any phone. The individual services have their own three-digit numbers:
The dedicated gas emergency line is distinctive to Russia and worth knowing if you live there.
Russian area codes by city, with the full number as you dial it from abroad.
Russian numbers are ten digits after the country code: a three-digit area code plus a seven-digit subscriber number. From abroad, dial +7 and all ten digits — do not add the 8 used for long-distance calls inside Russia.
Find international dialing codes for every country. Click any country to get the full calling guide & tips.
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