Donbass subscribers transferred to Russian code +7

Subscribers of mobile operators of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics were included in the Russian numbering plan +7. Residents of the republics will be able to call to Russia at domestic Russian tariffs. Information about this on Saturday, May 7, was received by Izvestia.

“Replacing the code numbering of DPR and LPR subscribers on calls to Russia is another step towards simplifying the life of ordinary citizens,” commented Dmitry Kim, Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development.

According to him, the code numbering for the residents of the republics will be a logical continuation of the previously signed agreements with the Russian Federation on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.

From May 7, phone numbers with numbering codes +38071 and +38072 will be displayed in the format +7 (949) and +7 (959) respectively. In this case, the new number will be mirrored to the current one, that is, the last seven digits will match.

The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the LPR clarified that the number when using numbering with the code +7 (959) will correspond to the previously issued number of the Lugacom operator, taking into account the change in the code. In this case, the replacement of SIM cards is not required. Tariffication and cost of calls will also remain at the same level.

A similar decision to switch to the Russian numbering system was made in the DPR. According to the head of the republic, Denis Pushilin, from today subscribers of the Phoenix operator with the numbering code +38071 will receive an additional number in the Russian system code. The last seven digits of the number will also match the previous one.

As for subscribers from Russia, they will be able to call DPR and LPR subscribers directly to +7 (959).

Currently, the state-owned republican mobile operators Phoenix and Lugakom operate in the DPR and LPR. None of the Russian operators operate in the territories of the republics.

After the transfer to the Russian code, residents of the republics will be able to connect the cards of Russian banks to online applications. As noted on the Sberbank hotline, bank customers from the DPR and LPR after changing the prefix to +7 will be able to connect the Sberbank-Online service. The same information was confirmed by VTB regarding its online application. At the same time, the banks clarified that customers from the republics of Donbass will be able to make changes to these data in branches in Russia. After that, the applications will work permanently.

As Izvestia’s war correspondent, who tested mobile communications in Donetsk, noted, there is now a transitional period during which both codes work.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the LPR and DPR Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin signed an agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. At the same time, the Russian leader signed decrees recognizing the independence of the republics.