Russia Emergency Numbers: Dial 112 for Help | Contact Info

The national emergency number in Russia is 112, operational since 2013 across all mobile and landline networks. This single number connects callers to police, fire, ambulance, and gas emergency services. For landlines without 112 access, legacy numbers remain functional: 01 for fire, 02 for police, 03 for ambulance. Mobile phones can dial these by adding 0 before the number (001, 002, 003). The Ministry of Emergency Situations operates 112 through Centralized Emergency Call Centers that coordinate response across multiple services.

Moscow operates a dedicated English-language helpline at +7 495 587-3333 for foreigners requiring assistance. This service functions 24 hours and can dispatch English-speaking emergency personnel when available. Saint Petersburg maintains a similar service at +7 812 573-9078. These numbers do not replace 112 but facilitate communication for non-Russian speakers. Response times in Moscow and Saint Petersburg average 10-15 minutes for medical emergencies in central districts, extending to 20-30 minutes in outer areas. In regional cities like Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, and Kazan, response times typically range 15-25 minutes in urban zones.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs oversees police services, reachable directly at 02 from landlines or 002 from mobile phones. Police stations called "otdeleniye politsii" exist in every administrative district. Moscow contains 125 police stations distributed across 12 administrative districts. Foreigners requiring police assistance should ask for an officer who speaks English, though availability varies significantly outside major tourist zones. The Ministry of Internal Affairs website lists station addresses by district, but these pages exist only in Russian. Police in Russia do not typically respond to minor theft reports with urgency; written reports for insurance purposes require visiting a station in person with a passport.

Medical emergencies connect through 112 or 03 (003 from mobile). The emergency medical service Skoraya Pomoshch dispatches ambulances staffed with paramedics and physicians. Response protocols prioritize cardiac events, severe trauma, and acute conditions requiring immediate intervention. Non-urgent cases may receive delayed response or telephone triage directing patients to polyclinics. Moscow's ambulance fleet numbered 1,200 vehicles as of 2022, serving a population of approximately 13 million. Saint Petersburg operates roughly 600 ambulances for 5 million residents. Ambulance services are state-funded and free at point of contact for Russian citizens and foreign nationals.

Foreign embassies maintain consular emergency services for their citizens. The United States Embassy in Moscow operates a 24-hour emergency line for American citizens at +7 495 728-5000. The British Embassy emergency number is +7 495 956-7200. Canadian citizens can reach emergency consular assistance at +7 495 956-6666. These services handle arrest situations, hospitalization requiring consular notification, death of citizens, and document loss in emergency contexts. Consular officers do not provide legal representation but can refer to English-speaking attorneys and notify family members. The embassy quarter in Moscow clusters around Bolshoy Deviatinsky Pereulok, with most Western embassies located within a two-kilometer radius.

Private medical assistance companies operate 24-hour coordination for foreign patients. International SOS maintains a Moscow alarm center at +7 495 937-6477, coordinating medical evacuations and directing patients to facilities with international standards. Medsi operates English-speaking call centers at +7 495 152-5573 with physician consultation available by phone. These services require membership or payment guarantees. European Medical Center in Moscow provides English-speaking emergency department services at +7 495 933-6655, though costs significantly exceed state hospital rates. A standard emergency department visit at a private facility costs 15,000-25,000 rubles; ambulance transport from private companies costs 8,000-15,000 rubles depending on distance.

Fire emergencies connect through 112 or 01 (001 from mobile). The Ministry of Emergency Situations operates fire brigades through regional departments called Glavnoye Upravleniye. Moscow maintains 101 fire stations with 3,500 firefighters. Average response time in Moscow ranges 6-10 minutes for central districts. The Ministry of Emergency Situations also coordinates rescue operations in natural disasters, building collapses, and hazardous material incidents. Regional EMERCOM offices maintain search and rescue teams equipped for mountain rescue in the Caucasus and Altai regions, wilderness search in Siberian forests, and Arctic operations in Murmansk Oblast and Far Eastern territories.

Natural gas emergencies require contacting the gas network operator Gazprom Gas Distribution. The emergency number 04 (004 from mobile) or 112 connects to gas emergency services. Gas leak response teams operate 24 hours with average response times of 15-20 minutes in cities. Russia's extensive natural gas infrastructure serves approximately 70 million people across 70 regions. Gas explosions in residential buildings have caused multiple incidents; a December 2018 explosion in Magnitogorsk killed 39 residents, and a June 2021 explosion in Noginsk killed 7. Residents smelling gas should evacuate immediately, avoid electrical switches, and call from outside the building.

Mountain rescue in the Caucasus operates through EMERCOM stations in Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, and Vladikavkaz. The Elbrus rescue service station at Azau (2,350 meters elevation) coordinates rescues on Mount Elbrus, where altitude sickness and sudden weather changes cause 10-15 deaths annually. Rescue operations cost 15,000-100,000 rubles depending on helicopter deployment. Kamchatka maintains rescue coordination through the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky EMERCOM office at +7 4152 233-449, responding to volcanic emergencies and wilderness incidents. The region's 29 active volcanoes require specialized monitoring; the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team operates under the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Water rescue services operate on Lake Baikal through EMERCOM stations in Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. The lake's temperature remains 8-12 degrees Celsius even in summer; cold water immersion causes rapid hypothermia. Rescue boats deploy from 12 stations around the lake's 2,100-kilometer shoreline. The Baikal rescue service responds to approximately 50 incidents annually, primarily involving tourists on unregistered boats. Marine rescue in Pacific waters operates from Vladivostok, responding to fishing vessel emergencies and recreational boating incidents in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk. The Marine Rescue Service under the Ministry of Transport maintains icebreaker-equipped vessels for winter operations.

Credit card emergency services provide 24-hour support for lost or stolen cards. Visa operates a Russia emergency number at 8-800-100-2222 (toll-free within Russia). Mastercard emergency services can be reached at 8-800-200-1111. American Express cardholders should call +1 336 393-1111 (collect calls accepted). These services block compromised cards and arrange emergency card replacement to hotels or embassy addresses. Replacement typically requires 3-5 business days in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, 7-10 days in regional cities. Banks in Russia generally do not provide immediate emergency cash to foreign cardholders without pre-arranged services.

Roadside assistance for rental vehicles typically connects through the rental company's emergency number printed on rental documents. Major Russian roads including the M7 (Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod-Kazan) and M5 (Moscow-Chelyabinsk) have periodic emergency phones spaced every 2-3 kilometers. The State Traffic Safety Inspectorate (GIBDD) operates road patrols on federal highways; their emergency number is 02 or 002. Winter driving in Siberia and Far Eastern regions requires specific preparation; temperatures in Yakutsk reach minus 40-50 Celsius from December through February. Vehicle breakdown in extreme cold can become life-threatening within hours without proper clothing and emergency supplies.

Railway emergencies aboard Russian Railways trains should be reported to the train conductor (provodnik) who can contact railway police and coordinate emergency stops. Long-distance trains on routes like the Trans-Siberian Railway carry conductors trained in basic medical response. The Russian Railways emergency coordination center operates at +7 499 262-9901, though primarily Russian-language service. Medical emergencies on trains typically result in unscheduled stops at the nearest station with medical facilities. The Trans-Siberian route crosses time zones requiring 6 days Moscow to Vladivostok; medical evacuation from remote sections in Eastern Siberia may require helicopter transport costing 200,000-500,000 rubles.

Aviation emergencies follow international protocols. Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow maintains emergency medical services on-site with trauma-equipped ambulances. Domodedovo Airport operates a 24-hour medical center at Terminal 2. Vnukovo Airport provides emergency medical facilities accessible through airport information at +7 495 436-2813. Saint Petersburg Pulkovo Airport maintains emergency services coordinated through +7 812 337-3822. Passengers experiencing medical emergencies should notify flight crew; Russian airlines including Aeroflot carry automated external defibrillators and medical kits on international flights per ICAO standards.

Legal emergencies requiring attorney access can be coordinated through embassy consular sections. The Moscow Bar Association maintains a referral service, though primarily Russian-language. Foreign nationals arrested in Russia have the right to consular notification under the Vienna Convention; authorities must permit contact with embassy officials within 72 hours of arrest. The Ministry of Internal Affairs operates pretrial detention facilities called IVS (Izolyator Vremennogo Soderzhaniya) in each administrative region. Detained foreign nationals should request consular access immediately; Russian criminal procedure differs substantially from Western systems, particularly regarding pretrial detention periods which can extend months.

Psychiatric emergencies connect through the general emergency number 112 or directly to psychiatric ambulance services at 03. Moscow operates specialized psychiatric emergency teams through the Kashchenko Psychiatric Hospital system, responding to acute psychiatric crises. Saint Petersburg maintains similar services through the Bekhterev Psychoneurological Research Institute. Involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in Russia requires assessment by two psychiatrists and judicial approval, though emergency detention for up to 48 hours can occur without court order when imminent danger exists. Foreign nationals experiencing psychiatric emergencies should contact their embassy, as psychiatric hospitalization can complicate visa status and departure.

Poison control operates through the Moscow Poison Control Center at +7 495 628-1687, providing 24-hour consultation for toxic exposures. Saint Petersburg maintains a poison information center at +7 812 740-4015. These centers advise on medication overdoses, chemical exposures, food poisoning, and toxic plant or mushroom ingestion. Russia experiences approximately 500-800 deaths annually from wild mushroom poisoning, with peak incidents in August and September. The death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) grows in birch and oak forests across European Russia; toxic exposure requires immediate hospital treatment, typically coordinated through regular emergency services after poison control consultation.

Child abduction cases involving international custody disputes should be reported immediately to embassy consular sections. Russia is not a signatory to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, significantly complicating legal recourse for parental child abduction cases. The Ministry of Internal Affairs investigates criminal child abduction through specialized units in regional police departments. Missing children cases should be reported to local police within hours; the first 24-48 hours significantly affect outcome in stranger abduction cases. Russia operates an amber alert-style system called "Poisk Propavshikh Detey" coordinated through regional EMERCOM offices.

Sexual assault survivors should contact police at 02 or 112, though reporting rates remain low due to social stigma and investigation challenges. Moscow operates crisis centers including the Anna Center at +7 495 518-6790, providing support services though not emergency medical care. Medical evidence collection for sexual assault cases requires examination at designated forensic medical facilities within 72 hours. Foreign nationals who are assault victims should contact their embassy for referral to English-speaking support services and attorneys familiar with the Russian criminal justice process. The judicial conviction rate for reported sexual assault cases in Russia remains below 10 percent according to 2019 Ministry of Internal Affairs statistics.

Domestic violence incidents connect through police services at 02 or 112. Russia decriminalized first-offense domestic battery not causing serious injury in 2017, reclassifying it as an administrative violation with maximum penalties of 15 days detention or 30,000 rubles fine. Crisis centers operate in major cities including the Sisters Center in Moscow at +7 901 301-8000, providing shelter and support services. Foreign nationals experiencing domestic violence should contact embassy consular services, particularly if passport access is controlled by an abusive partner. Protective orders similar to Western restraining orders do not exist in Russian law; police response to domestic violence calls focuses on separating parties rather than arrest except in cases involving weapons or serious injury.

Human trafficking situations require immediate contact with police and embassy services. The Ministry of Internal Affairs operates an anti-trafficking unit investigating forced labor and sex trafficking. The Global Slavery Index estimated 794,000 people lived in conditions of modern slavery in Russia as of 2018. Foreign workers in construction, agriculture, and domestic service face particular vulnerability to trafficking conditions. The International Organization for Migration operates a Moscow office at +7 495 797-8766, providing assistance to trafficking victims though not emergency response. Embassy consular officials can coordinate safe housing and repatriation for trafficking victims who are their citizens.

Arctic emergencies in regions including Murmansk Oblast, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug require specialized response capabilities. EMERCOM maintains Arctic rescue stations equipped with all-terrain vehicles and cold-weather gear. The Northern Fleet coordinates maritime rescue north of the Arctic Circle. Hypothermia and frostbite constitute primary risks; average January temperatures in Murmansk range minus 10 to minus 15 Celsius, while Dikson on the Taymyr Peninsula averages minus 25 to minus 30 Celsius. Travelers in Arctic regions should register itineraries with local EMERCOM offices; communication networks function poorly in remote areas, requiring satellite phones for reliable emergency contact.

Radiation emergencies connect through EMERCOM's specialized nuclear accident response teams. Russia operates 38 nuclear reactors across 11 sites, primarily concentrated in European Russia. The State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom maintains emergency response coordination for incidents at nuclear facilities. The Chernobyl disaster of 1986 occurred in Soviet Ukraine but affected Russian territories; current radiation monitoring stations operate across the European regions. Public radiation emergency alerts transmit through the Civil Defense warning system, tested monthly in cities. Foreign nationals near nuclear facilities should monitor official announcements and follow evacuation orders; embassy evacuation assistance may take 24-72 hours to coordinate depending on incident severity and transport availability.

Terrorism-related emergencies should be reported to police at 02 or 112. Russia experienced significant terrorist attacks from 1999 through 2017, primarily linked to North Caucasus insurgency. The March 2010 Moscow Metro bombings killed 40, and the April 2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing killed 15. Security forces maintain heightened alert status in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and North Caucasus regions. Suspicious packages or behavior should be reported immediately; Russian security services prioritize rapid response to potential terrorism threats. Foreign nationals should follow instructions from security personnel and avoid areas under evacuation orders.

Environmental disasters including earthquakes, floods, and wildfires coordinate response through EMERCOM regional offices. The Kamchatka Peninsula experiences frequent seismic activity; a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck offshore in August 2021. Earthquake early warning systems operate in seismically active regions including Kamchatka, Sakhalin, and the North Caucasus. The Lena River floods affect Yakutsk and surrounding areas most years during spring ice breakout; the 2001 flood submerged 80 percent of Lensk requiring 16,000 evacuations. Siberian wildfires peak June through August; the 2019 fires burned 13.1 million hectares across Krasnoyarsk Krai, Sakha Republic, and Irkutsk Oblast. Air quality alerts issue through EMERCOM when smoke affects populated areas.