diff --git a/tests/parity/visual/screenshot-diff-multi.ts b/tests/parity/visual/screenshot-diff-multi.ts
index bd90f720..b72eb262 100644
--- a/tests/parity/visual/screenshot-diff-multi.ts
+++ b/tests/parity/visual/screenshot-diff-multi.ts
@@ -50,8 +50,17 @@ export interface MultiViewportReport {
 // Config
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-const ANGULAR_BASE = "http://localhost:4200";
-const REACT_BASE = "http://localhost:8080";
+// Override either base via env vars to point at staging/live envs.
+// `ANGULAR_PATH_PREFIX` is prepended to each route's `angular` path, used
+// when the live env requires a locale segment (`/ru-ru`) that the local
+// Angular dev server doesn't.
+// `MOCK_ANGULAR=0` disables the API mock route handlers — required when
+// pointing at a real backend (mocks blackhole real API requests).
+const ANGULAR_BASE = process.env.ANGULAR_BASE ?? "http://localhost:4200";
+const ANGULAR_PATH_PREFIX = process.env.ANGULAR_PATH_PREFIX ?? "";
+const REACT_BASE = process.env.REACT_BASE ?? "http://localhost:8080";
+const MOCK_ANGULAR = process.env.MOCK_ANGULAR !== "0";
+const MOCK_REACT = process.env.MOCK_REACT !== "0";
 const REPORT_DIR = resolve(import.meta.dirname, "../../../comparison-report/visual");
 const SCREENSHOTS_DIR = join(REPORT_DIR, "screenshots");
 const DIFFS_DIR = join(REPORT_DIR, "diffs");
@@ -240,9 +249,11 @@ async function main() {
     const angularPage = await angularCtx.newPage();
     const reactPage = await reactCtx.newPage();
 
-    // Mock API endpoints for both apps (WAF blocks real API in dev)
-    await mockAngularAPIs(angularPage);
-    await mockAngularAPIs(reactPage);
+    // Mock API endpoints for both apps (WAF blocks real API in dev).
+    // When pointing at a real env (live test/staging), opt out via
+    // MOCK_ANGULAR=0 / MOCK_REACT=0 so the page hits the real backend.
+    if (MOCK_ANGULAR) await mockAngularAPIs(angularPage);
+    if (MOCK_REACT) await mockAngularAPIs(reactPage);
 
     // Override popular requests mock for React (React uses different field names)
     await reactPage.route("**/Requests/*/getpopular", (route) => {
@@ -267,14 +278,16 @@ async function main() {
       const fullPage = route.fullPage !== false;
       const maskSelectors = route.maskSelectors ?? [];
 
+      const angularUrl = `${ANGULAR_BASE}${ANGULAR_PATH_PREFIX}${route.angular}`;
+      const reactUrl = `${REACT_BASE}${route.react}`;
       console.log(`\n  ${route.name}`);
-      console.log(`    Angular: ${ANGULAR_BASE}${route.angular}`);
-      console.log(`    React:   ${REACT_BASE}${route.react}`);
+      console.log(`    Angular: ${angularUrl}`);
+      console.log(`    React:   ${reactUrl}`);
 
       try {
         const [angularBuf, reactBuf] = await Promise.all([
-          captureScreenshot(angularPage, `${ANGULAR_BASE}${route.angular}`, waitMs, fullPage, maskSelectors),
-          captureScreenshot(reactPage, `${REACT_BASE}${route.react}`, waitMs, fullPage, maskSelectors),
+          captureScreenshot(angularPage, angularUrl, waitMs, fullPage, maskSelectors),
+          captureScreenshot(reactPage, reactUrl, waitMs, fullPage, maskSelectors),
         ]);
 
         writeFileSync(angularPath, angularBuf);