Telephone numbers in the Soviet Union


The telephone numbering plan of the USSR was a set of telephone area codes, numbers and dialing rules, which operated in the Soviet Union until the 1990s. After the collapse of the USSR, many newly independent republics implemented their own numbering plans. However, many of the principles of the Soviet numbering plan still remain. The former Soviet country code 7 is still retained by Russia and Kazakhstan.

Basic principles

The Soviet Union used a four-level open numbering plan. The long-distance prefix was 8.
  1. Local numbers could be dialed directly, and usually consisted of 5-7 digits, with seven-digit numbers only occurring in Moscow, Leningrad and Kiev. If the internal number of the regional center had less than 7 digits, then its intercity code was supplemented with numbers.
  2. : For example, with the code 423 of Primorsky Krai: 423 22 was the code of Vladivostok, while 423 66 was the code of Nakhodka.
  3. Within the same numbering area the pattern was: 8 2X YYYYYY, where 2 replaced the three-digit area code.
  4. : For example: 8 2 24 XXXXX for a call to the city of Klin, Klinsky District, Moscow Oblast from Moscow and the Moscow Oblast.
  5. For calls to other areas, one had to first dial long-distance prefix 8, then, after the tone, the full code of the numbering area, which consisted of a three-digit code and zone additional digit, and then the local phone number.
  6. : For example: 8 096 24 XXXXX for a call to the city of Klin, Klinsky District, Moscow Oblast from other regions.
  7. For international calls, one should dial 8 10 .
  8. : For example: 8 10 1 212 XXXXXXX for a call to New York City.
  9. ::: Also: 8 10 359 2 XXXXXX for a call to the city of Sofia.

Emergency and service numbers

Emergency numbers in the USSR began with 0 and had two digits. When one called the emergency numbers, no tariff was charged.
  • 01 - Fire brigade
  • 02 - Police
  • 03 - Ambulance
  • 04 - Gas leaks
  • 05 was used in some major cities as a city certificate of addresses of residents or organizations
  • 06 was used in many cities for reception of telegrams through the home telephone
  • 07 was used to order long-distance calls through the operator
  • 08 was used and continues to be used to contact the telephone repair bureau
  • 09 was a telephone directory service.
In addition, in Moscow there was and continues to operate a toll-free telephone number 100 to get the current time. The free telephone service of the exact time is preserved in also other cities of Russia; for example in Kaliningrad this number is 060.

Area codes

Area codes were assigned geographically, so that neighboring regions usually had close area code numbers.

Area 0

Area codes with 0 denotes the republics and Oblasts of the European part of the USSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, these codes in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine were preserved, with minor changes. Area codes in Ukraine and Belarus later dropped initial 0. In Russia, in December 2005 the leading zero in the Oblastal area codes was replaced by a 4 with the next 2 numbers same.

Area 3

Area 4

Area 8

Legacy

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, except for Russia and Kazakhstan, every other post Soviet state adopted a new telephone country code.370 assigned to in 1993371 assigned to in 1993372 assigned to in 1993373 assigned to in 1993374 assigned to in 1995375 assigned to in 1995380 assigned to in 19957 retained by and 992 assigned to in 1998993 assigned to in 1998994 assigned to in 1998995 assigned to in 1998996 assigned to in 1998997 reserved for in 2021 but was not implemented; as of 2025 Kazakhstan continues to share 7 with Russia998 assigned to in 1998