Time zone · Europe
MSK
Volgograd Standard Time
Volgograd Standard Time (MSK) covers Russia's southern Volgograd region year‑round on UTC+03:00, with no daylight saving changes—making it a stable, three‑hour‑ahead partner when coordinating with UTC‑based timelines.
Friday, June 5, 2026
Current offset
UTC+03:00
Standard · MSK
Daylight saving
Not observed
Year-round standard time
IANA zones
1
None observe daylight saving
DST offset
—
No summer variant
About MSK
A fixed, year-round offset.
Volgograd Standard Time (MSK) covers Russia's southern Volgograd region year‑round on UTC+03:00, with no daylight saving changes—making it a stable, three‑hour‑ahead partner when coordinating with UTC‑based timelines.
IANA zones · the technical identifiers
The zone that resolve to MSK.
For software, always store the IANA identifier — never the abbreviation alone. The database keeps these zones distinct because their rules can, and historically did, diverge.
Cities currently on MSK
The same hour, city by city.
1 city · all UTC+03:00
Where MSK is used
One country.
Same offset · UTC+03:00
Other zones at UTC+03:00 right now.
These named zones share MSK's offset today. When daylight saving rules differ, they drift apart for part of the year.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about MSK, daylight saving, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- Does Volgograd Standard Time change with daylight saving?
- No. Since 2020, Europe/Volgograd has stayed fixed at UTC+03:00, so clocks never spring forward or fall back.
- Why is an ordinary MSK code in here?
- The code was traditionally used for Moscow but is now reassigned to the Europe/Volgograd time‑zone database entry, making it a distinct label within the global tzdata.
- What does UTC+03:00 mean for daily life in Volgograd?
- Moscow, Nairobi, Riyadh, and other UTC+03:00 centres align naturally with local schedules, simplifying real‑time collaboration across Eurasia and East Africa.
- When did Europe/Volgograd finally lock to +03:00?
- +03:00 became permanent on 27 December 2020, ending a series of earlier shifts that at times pushed the zone forward an hour.
- Where is Volgograd located in terms of longitude and geography?
- The city lies along the western bank of the Volga River in Russia's Southern Federal District, straddling the time‑line that historically justified UTC+03:00.
- Do the member zones use daylight saving?
- No. The single zone—Europe/Volgograd—has opted out of daylight saving, so the offset remains UTC+03:00 throughout the year.
- How does MSK relate to Moscow Time (MSK)?
- Although both share the mnemonic MSK, Moscow Time is now fixed at UTC+04:00, making Volgograd's MSK an hour behind the capital.
- What are the practical benefits of a no‑DST zone?
- Predictable offsets simplify long‑term scheduling, software configuration, and legal deadlines because the time difference never changes.
- Is MSK used outside this zone?
- The label collides with legacy references to Moscow, but within the IANA tzdata it points exclusively to Europe/Volgograd's UTC+03:00 definition.
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