Area Code 96 – Mobile Network

Overview of Ukraine Mobile Prefix +380 96

The Ukrainian country calling code +380 is followed by a national destination code (NDC) that identifies the type of service and, for mobile networks, the specific operator or operator group. The prefix 96 is a non-geographic mobile allocation, meaning it is not tied to any physical region or city. Numbers bearing this prefix are assigned to mobile network operators (MNOs) and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) operating under the Ukrainian national numbering plan, as administered by the Ukrainian State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection (Derzhspetszviazok).

Subscriber numbers under the +380 96 prefix are seven digits long, resulting in a complete national significant number (NSN) of nine digits (excluding the leading trunk prefix '0'). Thus, a full international dialing format appears as +380 96 XXX XX XX. When dialing domestically from a Ukrainian landline or mobile phone, callers must use the trunk prefix '0' before the NDC, resulting in the format 0 96 XXX XX XX. For international callers, the leading '0' is omitted, and the country code +380 is used.

Operator and Porting Considerations

The 96 prefix is primarily associated with the mobile operator Kyivstar, one of the largest MNOs in Ukraine. However, due to mobile number portability (MNP), a subscriber may have retained a 96 number while switching to another operator. Therefore, the prefix alone does not guarantee the current network; verification via a portability database is recommended for critical communications.

These numbers support standard GSM/UMTS/LTE and now 5G services, including voice, SMS, and high-speed data. They are also used for IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. For SMS and voice, international routing is handled via the +380 96 numbering range, and messages are delivered to the subscriber's home network regardless of current roaming status.

Dialing Instructions

• Domestic call (within Ukraine): Dial 096 XXX XX XX (including the trunk prefix 0).
• International call (from abroad): Dial your country's international access code (e.g., 00 from most European countries, 011 from the US/Canada), then 380 96 XXX XX XX.
• Receiving calls: Ukrainian mobile numbers are typically answered with the same tariff regardless of caller location, but international callers may incur higher charges depending on their own operator's rates.

As a non-geographic allocation, the 96 prefix is not associated with any specific city or region. This allows subscribers to keep their number when moving across the country, a key feature of the Ukrainian numbering plan.