AI models without a VPN: using Claude, GPT and Gemini from Russia

If you are looking for AI models that work without any network workaround, you have probably hit one of two walls: the official service's site does not open, or it does not accept your payment. These are two different problems with different solutions. Below we look at where they come from, which lawful options remain for a person in Russia, and how to check in five minutes that everything works.

Why official services demand a foreign network

There are usually three reasons, and only the first one has anything to do with the network:

1. Regional restrictions. Some companies do not serve users from certain countries: sign-up, login or the API refuses by region. Each service has its own terms that change, so check the service's own list of supported countries.
2. Payment. A subscription or a balance top-up requires a foreign bank card. Without one access stays closed even if the site loads.
3. Phone and account. Sign-up needs a phone number and an account that the service is willing to accept.

We do not discuss or recommend getting around restrictions through third-party networks: it is unstable and may break the services' own rules. Let us talk about options where nothing needs to be bypassed.

Two options that need no workaround

Option 1. A chat in the browser

Zukko is a gateway to Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen and GLM models. It has a chat that opens in an ordinary browser at zukko.pro/app/chat↗. You choose a model from the list, type a question and get an answer; you pay for tokens from your balance, there is no subscription. For one-off questions, texts and document review this is enough. How the chat differs from the API and when to pick which: browser chat or API↗.

Option 2. The API through the gateway

If you need the model in code, in an editor or in a bot, you use the API. You get one key like fetch_... and set the gateway's address instead of the provider's. Then the usual libraries and tools work: official SDKs, Cursor, Claude Code, Cline and many others. For the details, see the beginner's guide↗.

Access from Russia works through the gateway, with payment by SBP, MasterCard or crypto. You do not need to set up any foreign network on your side: requests go to api.zukko.pro like to any ordinary site.

Which models are available

The model list changes, so always take the current one from the dashboard or from GET https://api.zukko.pro/v1/models. As of 18 October 2026 it includes, for example, claude-sonnet-5-5, claude-opus-5-5, gpt-6.1-sol, gemini-3.8-flash, deepseek-v4.1-flash, qwen3.8-max and glm-5.3-flash. Which one suits your task nobody can tell in advance: compare price, context and strength index in the table and try two or three models on your own examples.

A five-minute access check

1. Open the dashboard↗ and sign in.
2. Top up the balance (minimum $1). Payment methods are below.
3. Create a key on the API keys↗ page. The full key is shown once, so save it.
4. Check the model list:

curl https://api.zukko.pro/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer fetch_your_key"

1. Send a first request:

curl https://api.zukko.pro/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer fetch_your_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "deepseek-v4.1-flash",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Answer in one word: does it work?"}]
  }'

If you got JSON with a choices field, access works. Typical responses when something is wrong: 401 means a wrong key, 402 means insufficient balance, 404 means a wrong model name. The same steps are collected in the quick start↗.

How to pay

• SBP — payment in rubles at the market rate at the time of payment; the payment page adds an 8.5% fee on top, and the dollar amount you requested is credited to the balance. Step by step: paying through SBP↗.
• Cryptocurrency (USDT and others).
• MasterCard cards — a fee of about 13%, amounts from $2 to $594.

A fuller comparison of the methods is in a separate article about paying for AI in Russia.

"Without a workaround, for free" — what is actually possible

The query "AI without a workaround for free" deserves an honest answer. Official chats sometimes have free tiers with limits; we do not know their terms or availability in your country and cannot change them, so check the services' sites. Zukko has no free access: you pay for tokens. But requests cost very little.

An example with numbers (prices as of 18 October 2026, a question of 2,000 input tokens and an answer of 1,000 output tokens):

• deepseek-v4.1-flash ($0.013 input, $0.038 output per 1M): 2,000 × 0.013 / 1,000,000 + 1,000 × 0.038 / 1,000,000 = $0.000026 + $0.000038 = $0.000064.
• claude-sonnet-5-5 ($0.4 / $2): 2,000 × 0.4 / 1,000,000 + 1,000 × 2 / 1,000,000 = $0.0008 + $0.002 = $0.0028. About 357 such requests fit into $1.

This is an illustrative calculation; real spending depends on the length of the conversation and the answer.

FAQ

Can I use Claude and GPT from Russia without extra network tools?

Through the gateway, yes: the chat opens in the browser, the API works at an ordinary HTTPS address, and the balance is topped up in rubles via SBP, with a MasterCard or with crypto.

Do I need a foreign card?

No. SBP, MasterCard and cryptocurrency are accepted for top-ups. Which cards a specific official service accepts, check on its payment page.

Is this the same as a ChatGPT or Claude Pro subscription?

No. A subscription gives access to the official chat under the service's plan; see its site for current terms. The gateway charges per token, with no subscription, and the key works in code and tools.

Where should a beginner start?

Open the browser chat and ask a few questions to different models. When you need code, create a key in the Zukko dashboard↗ and repeat the example above.