Apple partnered with local financial institution Sberbank and card issuer Mastercard for its Apple Pay launch in Russia.

Sberbank customers with Mastercard credit and debit cards will be able to use Apple Pay to make contactless payments at certain retailers.

Rival service Samsung Pay was launched in the same market last week.

The Russian Apple Pay website gives a list of retailers where the service is accepted, including supermarket chain Atak, BP and Media Markt. In addition, Burger King will be among those added soon, it said.

In contrast, Samsung Pay launched with six local financial partners: Alfa-Bank, VTB24, MTS Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, Russian Standard Bank and Yandex Money.

MTS Bank is the financial institution affiliated with the mobile operator of the same name (MTS).