No, roaming in Russia is generally not free with EU, UK, or US mobile plans, and can be very expensive.
Russia falls outside the EU/EEA 'roam like at home' zone, meaning your home provider will charge you standard international roaming rates, which are typically very high for data, calls, and texts. These costs can quickly accumulate, especially when using navigation, social media, or communication apps in cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg. An eSIM provides a cost-effective alternative by offering a local data connection, allowing you to avoid these exorbitant roaming charges.
Our eSIMs automatically connect to the strongest available major local network, such as MTS, MegaFon, Beeline, or Tele2, ensuring reliable coverage across major cities and tourist areas. While messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram generally work for texts, voice and video calls through these apps have been subject to throttling by Roskomnadzor since 2025, making them unreliable for calls. For local transport, ride-hailing apps like Yandex Go are widely used and rely on a stable data connection.