The Central Bank of Russia is taking a decisive stance regarding payment systems that have left the country. Visa and Mastercard cards, which millions of Russians still carry in their wallets, are supposed to finally leave the market. This was directly stated by Alla Bakina, Director of the National Payment System Department at the Central Bank.
Will old cards be disconnected in Russia? The Central Bank really wants to
What the Central Bank Said About the Future of Visa and Mastercard Cards
On May 25, Alla Bakina stated that the Bank of Russia has formed a clear position: cards from international payment systems must leave the Russian market. According to her, these cards no longer perform the functions they used to provide. Meanwhile, NSPK — the National Payment Card System — continues to bear the costs of supporting them.
It sounds logical. Visa and Mastercard left Russia back in the spring of 2022. Since then, cards from these systems issued by Russian banks don’t work abroad. They don’t work in foreign online stores. They don’t provide access to subscriptions like Apple Music or iCloud+ directly. Essentially, it’s plastic with a logo that is serviced domestically by the same NSPK that handles Mir cards.
However, NSPK is not the operator of these cards. It only supports them technically — under the terms and parameters that were established before the international systems left. The product is not being developed or updated, and the costs of maintaining it haven’t gone anywhere.
Why Visa and Mastercard Still Work in Russia After Their Departure
When Visa and Mastercard suspended operations in March 2022, the Central Bank assured that already issued cards would continue to be serviced domestically. Banks together with NSPK extended the validity periods of cards — some even made them indefinite. This was a forced decision: demand for Mir cards surged sharply, and there weren’t enough chips for new plastic.
NSPK continues to support the functionality of Mir cards, otherwise they would have been disconnected back in 2022
More than three years have passed since then. The share of Mir cards in total issuance reached 64% by the end of 2024, and by January 2026, more than 476 million cards of this system had been issued. Mir cards have long occupied more than half of all card transactions in the country.
Nevertheless, about 20% of Russians still use Visa and Mastercard cards for everyday purchases. For some, it’s simply a habit. For others, it’s reluctance to go to the bank and reissue plastic. And some keep them “just in case,” although that case is unlikely to come.
Back at the end of 2025, NSPK CEO Dmitry Dubynin said that the company was discussing with the market how much more time people needed for a comfortable transition to national cards. But the tone of the Central Bank’s statements has noticeably hardened since then.
Will Visa and Mastercard Cards Be Disconnected
The story of disconnecting Visa and Mastercard has been going on for more than a month. Back in the summer of 2025, Bakina stated that the Central Bank planned to limit the validity periods of cards with expired terms — as a measure to combat fraud. The longer a card is in circulation, the higher the risk of credential leaks.
Will the Central Bank dare to flip the switch?
In January 2026, banks asked the State Duma to remove from the package of anti-fraud bills the Central Bank’s right to set card validity periods. Credit organizations warned about negative consequences for the market and customers. As a result, in May 2026, the State Duma rejected the Central Bank’s amendment — Visa and Mastercard cards formally remained indefinite.
The head of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, Anatoly Aksakov, explained the decision simply: there had been enough time for consumers to open a Mir card, so there was no point in forced restrictions. But Bakina’s statement from May 25 shows that the Central Bank has not backed down. The regulator still believes that Visa and Mastercard must go. Now, apparently, it is looking for other mechanisms — not through a direct ban in law, but through economic pressure and negotiations with banks.
What to Replace Visa and Mastercard With for iPhone Payments
Visa or Mastercard cards from a Russian bank cannot be used to pay for purchases in the App Store, nor for international subscriptions like Apple Music, Apple TV+, and iCloud+. But some users use old Visa and Mastercard cards to pay in Russian services — for example, to top up Apple ID through intermediaries or for purchases in apps that accept payment through Russian payment gateways. If these cards stop working at some point, you’ll need to reissue your plastic to Mir.
Get a Mir card and pay with your iPhone without any problems. It’s long overdue
The advice is simple: if you still have a Visa or Mastercard from a Russian bank — don’t wait for a forced disconnection. Contact your bank and issue a Mir card. It’s free, takes a couple of days, and eliminates any risks.
