DeepSeek in Russia: V4 Pro, V4.1 Flash and V4 Flash on one key

People look for DeepSeek in Russia mostly for cheap models for bulk work: classification, data extraction, text drafts. Through Zukko, three DeepSeek models are available in a browser chat and via API with one key, alongside Claude, GPT and Gemini, and the balance is topped up in rubles. Below: prices, a budget example and which model to use when.

DeepSeek in Russia: why a gateway if there is an official API

DeepSeek has its own website and API with separate sign-up and top-ups; check the payment options on DeepSeek's site. A gateway helps with other things:

• Paying in rubles. SBP or a Russian bank card (Mir, Visa, Mastercard) at the market rate at the time of payment, or cryptocurrency. Top-ups from $1.
• One key for all models. DeepSeek, Claude, GPT, Gemini, Qwen and GLM from one balance. You can keep a cheap model for the main stream and a strong one for hard cases without a second account.
• Spending control. Each key has its own daily and monthly dollar limit and a list of allowed models.
• One format. Any model can be called in the OpenAI or Anthropic format; the gateway converts.

Zukko is an API gateway, not DeepSeek's official service: you work with a fetch_... key and the https://api.zukko.pro address.

Which DeepSeek models are available and what they cost

Prices are in USD per 1M tokens, as of October 7, 2026:

All three have a 1M-token context. The intelligence index is the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index (a composite benchmark score); there is no data for V4 Flash. The lineup and prices change: for the current list and prices, call GET https://api.zukko.pro/v1/models or open the Models page in the dashboard.

Note the cache: in our catalog, the cache-read price for DeepSeek models equals the input price, and cache writes are not billed. So caching gives neither a saving nor a surcharge here; count all input at the input price.

Which DeepSeek model to choose

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash is the cheapest of the three and has the highest intelligence index among them (39). It is the default candidate for text tasks: classification, field extraction, short answers, translating template texts.

DeepSeek V4 Pro is the only one of the three that accepts image input. Its index is lower (36) and its price is higher, so use it when you need images: screenshots, scans, photos of documents.

DeepSeek V4 Flash costs more than V4.1 Flash for both input and output, has no image input and no index data. It makes sense if your prompts are already tuned on it and you don't want behavior to change without testing. Before moving to V4.1 Flash, run the same examples through both models.

The index is an averaged score, not a forecast for your task. A reliable way to choose: 30–50 real examples with reference answers, one prompt, and a comparison of accuracy and actual spend from usage. More on each model in the guides DeepSeek V4.1 Flash via API↗ and DeepSeek V4 Pro via API↗; a comparison with other vendors' models is in the overview AI API prices in October 2026↗.

A worked budget example

Take 10,000 requests of 1,500 input and 400 output tokens. Formula: 10,000 × (1500 × input + 400 × output) / 1,000,000.

• V4.1 Flash: 10,000 × (1500 × 0.013 + 400 × 0.038) / 1,000,000 = 10,000 × (19.5 + 15.2) / 1,000,000 = $0.347;
• V4 Flash: 10,000 × (37.5 + 25.2) / 1,000,000 = $0.627;
• V4 Pro: 10,000 × (112.5 + 90) / 1,000,000 = $2.025;
• for comparison, V4.1 Flash at the official price (0.15 / 0.6): 10,000 × (225 + 240) / 1,000,000 = $4.65.

This is a sample calculation at October 7, 2026 prices, not a guarantee of the final bill: your token profile will differ.

How to connect DeepSeek

In the chat

Sign up at zukko.pro↗, top up, open the chat↗ and pick a DeepSeek model from the list. Usage is charged per token from your balance.

Via API

Create a key in the API keys↗ section; the full key is shown only once. The official openai SDK works as is:

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(base_url="https://api.zukko.pro/v1", api_key="fetch_your_key")

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="deepseek-v4.1-flash",
    messages=[
        {"role": "system", "content": "Extract the order number and date from the email. Reply in JSON."},
        {"role": "user", "content": "Hello! Order 48213 from October 2 arrived in the wrong size."},
    ],
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)

An image for V4 Pro is passed in the standard OpenAI format:

import base64

with open("scan.png", "rb") as f:
    image_b64 = base64.b64encode(f.read()).decode()

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="deepseek-v4-pro",
    messages=[{
        "role": "user",
        "content": [
            {"type": "text", "text": "Transcribe the text from the image."},
            {"type": "image_url", "image_url": {"url": f"data:image/png;base64,{image_b64}"}},
        ],
    }],
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Use model ids from the Zukko catalog: names from other services' documentation return 404 model_not_found. The list is in the /v1/models docs↗.

Limits and errors

• 429 — the key's daily or monthly limit is used up, or the model provider's limit kicked in. Zukko has no general rate limit of its own; for bulk processing, add a retry with a pause.
• 503 model_disabled — the model is switched off; move to another one from GET /v1/models.
• 413 — the request is too large; split the document into parts.
• 403 model_not_allowed_for_key — the model is not on the key's allowed list.

If you are choosing among Chinese models in general, see the overview DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM via API↗.

FAQ

Which DeepSeek model is the cheapest?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash: $0.013 per 1M input and $0.038 per 1M output tokens (prices as of October 7, 2026).

Which DeepSeek model understands images?

Of the three models in the catalog, only DeepSeek V4 Pro accepts image input.

Can I call DeepSeek through the Anthropic SDK?

Yes. Any model can be called in the OpenAI or Anthropic format; the gateway converts the request.

Does caching give a discount on DeepSeek?

In the Zukko catalog, the cache-read price for DeepSeek equals the input price and writes are not billed, so caching doesn't affect the total.