As of July 26, 2026, there is no single reliable method for Russians to pay for foreign AI services like Freepik, ElevenLabs, and Leonardo. Following Visa and Mastercard's withdrawal from Russia in 2022, direct payments are impossible. Recent EU sanctions, including placing Russia on a high-risk money laundering list in January 2026, have further complicated matters, increasing processing times and requiring enhanced checks for transactions involving Russian clients. Services like ElevenLabs also actively block access from Russia, though they may suggest workarounds like changing IP addresses. AI
IMPACT Navigating international payments for AI tools remains a significant challenge for users in sanctioned regions.
RANK_REASON Article discusses the ongoing challenges and workarounds for making payments to foreign AI services from Russia, rather than reporting on a new event.
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