Claude Code in Russia: installation and use without an Anthropic subscription

Claude Code is a console agent for development: it reads the project, edits files and runs commands right in the terminal. The question of Claude Code in Russia usually comes down not to installation but to access and payment: a foreign card, an account and a subscription. Below is a path without an Anthropic subscription: we install the program and connect it to a gateway with two environment variables, paying per token. Access from Russia works through the gateway, with payment by SBP, MasterCard or crypto.

What you need

• A terminal: macOS, Linux, Windows (PowerShell, CMD or WSL).
• A key like fetch_.... It is created on the API keys↗ page after topping up the balance (from $1). The full key is shown once.
• A couple of minutes for setup. With this connection Claude Code does not use a paid Anthropic account: tokens are paid from the gateway balance.

Topping up via SBP is described step by step in paying through SBP↗; the payment page adds an 8.5% fee on top.

Step 1. Installing Claude Code

Always check the official Claude Code documentation, the Setup section, for current commands: methods and versions change. At the time of writing the official documentation offers the following.

macOS, Linux, WSL:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

Windows PowerShell:

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

An npm alternative (needs Node.js 22 or newer, do not use sudo):

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Open a new terminal window and check:

claude --version
claude doctor

claude --version prints the version number, claude doctor prints installation diagnostics. If the shell cannot find claude, the install folder is not on your PATH: the documentation describes how to fix it. If the installer address does not open for you, try the npm variant.

Step 2. Connecting to the gateway

Two variables are needed. The address is given without /v1: Claude Code appends the path to /v1/messages itself. And note: the key must be passed specifically via ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN.

macOS, Linux, WSL (bash or zsh):

export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://api.zukko.pro
export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN=fetch_your_key
export ANTHROPIC_MODEL=claude-sonnet-5-5

Windows PowerShell:

$env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL = "https://api.zukko.pro"
$env:ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN = "fetch_your_key"
$env:ANTHROPIC_MODEL = "claude-sonnet-5-5"

To avoid typing the variables each time, you can put them into the Claude Code settings file ~/.claude/settings.json in an env block (check the Settings section of the official documentation):

{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.zukko.pro",
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "fetch_your_key",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "claude-sonnet-5-5"
  }
}

Do not commit this file and do not publish the key. Step-by-step setup is in the Zukko Claude Code documentation↗.

Step 3. First launch

Go to the project folder and start the agent:

cd ~/my-project
claude

Ask a simple question: "Describe the structure of this project in five points." If an answer arrives, the connection works. Spending is visible on the "Usage" page in the dashboard. The next step is to describe the project rules in a CLAUDE.md file at the repository root: the agent reads it at the start of a session.

Choosing a model

The ANTHROPIC_MODEL variable sets the model. Zukko prices as of 18 October 2026, $ per 1M tokens:

An example calculation of a small session (10 requests; assumptions: 20,000 tokens of fresh input, 20,000 of cache writes, 150,000 of cache reads, 8,000 of output):

• claude-sonnet-5-5: 20,000 × 0.4 + 20,000 × 0.5 + 150,000 × 0.05 + 8,000 × 2 = 8,000 + 10,000 + 7,500 + 16,000 = 41,500, i.e. $0.0415.
• claude-opus-5-5: 20,000 × 0.8 + 20,000 × 1 + 150,000 × 0.08 + 8,000 × 4 = 16,000 + 20,000 + 12,000 + 32,000 = 80,000, i.e. $0.08.

(Each term is divided by 1,000,000.) This is a calculation on assumptions, not a promise: real spending depends on the project. In the Anthropic format, i.e. in Claude Code, the gateway sees cache reads and writes separately, so they are billed at their own prices. More: how much a Claude Code agent costs↗.

Any model from the catalogue can also be called in the Anthropic format, including non-Claude ones. But agent behaviour with tools differs between models, so test the chosen one on your project. The current list is GET https://api.zukko.pro/v1/models.

Typical first-run errors

If requests still do not go through, test the key directly:

curl https://api.zukko.pro/v1/messages \
  -H "x-api-key: fetch_your_key" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","max_tokens":50,"messages":[{"role":"user","content":"ping"}]}'

If curl answers but Claude Code does not, the problem is in the environment variables.

Avoiding overspending

• Create a separate key for Claude Code with a daily and monthly dollar limit: if the agent loops, it hits the limit rather than draining the balance.
• Watch session length and clear the context between tasks.
• Do not hand work secrets to the agent: keep .env outside the project or forbid reading it in the settings.

FAQ

Do I need an Anthropic account?

No: with a connection through ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL and ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN, requests go to the gateway and payment comes from the Zukko balance. The terms of the Claude Code program itself are set by Anthropic; see its documentation for current information.

How is this different from a subscription?

A subscription gives access under the service's plan, while here you pay per token, with no subscription. See the services' sites for subscription terms, we do not quote them.

Does it work in VS Code?

Yes, Claude Code can be run in the editor's built-in terminal and the environment variables work the same way.

Where do I start?

Create a key in the Zukko dashboard↗, set the two variables and run claude in a small project.