Gemini in Russia via API: Gemini 3.8 Flash and 3.7 Flash on one key

Gemini is not available in Russia directly: Google does not open the Gemini API to this region. If you need inexpensive Gemini models for bulk tasks, you can connect them through Zukko with one key and pay in rubles. Below: connection code, Gemini 3.8 Flash and 3.7 Flash prices, a budget calculation and the limits worth knowing in advance.

Why you can't connect the Gemini API from Russia directly

Russia is not on the list of regions where Google AI Studio and the Gemini API are available (we checked the list in Google's documentation on October 7, 2026). You can't get a key and pay for usage from Russia through the official route.

Zukko is an API gateway to Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM models. You get one fetch_... key, a balance in US dollars and pay-per-token billing with no subscription. You can top up via SBP, a Russian bank card (Mir, Visa, Mastercard) in rubles at the market rate, or cryptocurrency. The minimum is $1.

Which Gemini models are available

The Zukko catalog has two Gemini models. Prices are in USD per 1M tokens, as of October 7, 2026:

The intelligence index is the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, a composite benchmark score; there is no data for Gemini 3.7 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.

Gemini in Russia via API: setup in 5 minutes

1. Sign up at zukko.pro↗ and top up your balance.
2. Create a key in the API keys↗ section. The full key is shown only once, so save it.
3. Send a request in the OpenAI-compatible format.

Python, official openai SDK:

from openai import OpenAI

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

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gemini-3.8-flash",
    messages=[
        {"role": "system", "content": "Answer briefly."},
        {"role": "user", "content": "Classify the sentiment of this review: 'Delivered fast, but the box was dented'"},
    ],
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)
print(response.usage)

The same with curl:

curl https://api.zukko.pro/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer fetch_your_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model": "gemini-3.7-flash", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hi! Answer in one word."}]}'

The gateway accepts requests in the OpenAI and Anthropic formats and converts them for any model. If your code is written with Google's SDK, move the calls to the OpenAI SDK: usually that means changing the client, the model name and the message format. Endpoint reference: the chat/completions docs↗.

Gemini Flash limits in the Zukko catalog

• No image input. Both Gemini models in our catalog accept text only. If you need to process screenshots, scans or photos, pick a model with image input, for example gpt-6.1-sol, claude-sonnet-5 or deepseek-v4-pro.
• Text models only. There is no Gemini image generation in the catalog.
• 1M-token context. Long documents fit into one request, but you pay for every input token, so don't send more than you need.
• Provider limits. Zukko has no general rate limit of its own, but the model provider may limit request frequency, in which case you get a 429. For bulk processing, add a retry with a pause.
• A model can be switched off. If you get a 503 with the model_disabled code, switch to a model from GET /v1/models.

What it costs: a worked example

Take 10,000 requests of 2,000 input and 300 output tokens, such as ticket classification. Formula: 10,000 × (2000 × input + 300 × output) / 1,000,000.

• Gemini 3.8 Flash: 10,000 × (2000 × 0.063 + 300 × 0.288) / 1,000,000 = 10,000 × (126 + 86.4) / 1,000,000 = $2.124;
• Gemini 3.7 Flash: 10,000 × (2000 × 0.025 + 300 × 0.063) / 1,000,000 = 10,000 × (50 + 18.9) / 1,000,000 = $0.689;
• at the official price (0.75 / 3.75): 10,000 × (1500 + 1125) / 1,000,000 = $26.25.

A different profile — one long 200,000-token document and a 2,000-token answer: on Gemini 3.8 Flash that is (200,000 × 0.063 + 2,000 × 0.288) / 1,000,000 = 0.0126 + 0.000576 ≈ $0.0132.

These are sample calculations at October 7, 2026 prices, not a guarantee of the final bill. On caching: for Gemini, cache writes are not billed, and cache reads are charged at $0.013 if the provider reports them in the response. So caching can only lower the total.

Gemini 3.8 Flash or 3.7 Flash

On price, 3.7 Flash is cheaper for both input and output. 3.8 Flash has an intelligence index of 41, while there is no index data for 3.7 Flash, so you can't compare their quality sight unseen. A practical approach:

1. Collect 30–50 real examples of your task with expected answers.
2. Run them through both models with the same prompt.
3. Compare the share of correct answers and the actual spend from usage.
4. Pick the cheaper model if it clears your quality bar.

If you want other cheap models among the candidates, see the comparison DeepSeek or Gemini Flash↗ and the detailed guide Gemini 3.8 Flash via API↗. Keep in mind that since October 6 Gemini 3.8 Flash is no longer among the cheapest: on input, deepseek-v4.1-flash (0.013 / 0.038) and glm-5.3-flash (0.04 / 0.04), for example, cost less. How to connect DeepSeek is covered in the article DeepSeek in Russia↗.

So that a bulk-processing script doesn't run up a bill, set a daily and monthly dollar limit on the key and restrict its list of allowed models: when a limit is hit the gateway returns 429, and a request for a model outside the list returns 403 model_not_allowed_for_key.

FAQ

Can I send an image to Gemini?

In the Zukko catalog, both Gemini models accept text only. For images, use a model with image input, such as gpt-6.1-sol or deepseek-v4-pro.

Do I need a Google account?

No. You work with a Zukko key and balance; no Google Cloud or AI Studio account is needed.

Is Gemini Pro available?

Right now the catalog has only Gemini 3.8 Flash and Gemini 3.7 Flash. The lineup changes, so check GET /v1/models.

How do I pay from Russia?

SBP, a Russian bank card (in rubles at the market rate at the time of payment) or cryptocurrency. Top-ups start at $1.