Apple Remove VK Apps from App Store; Russian Ministry Appeals to Antimonopoly Service
Apple has removed all applications from the VK holding company, including VKontakte, VK Music, and Mail.ru, from its App Store, citing sanctions compliance. Russian authorities have deemed the move politically motivated and are seeking intervention from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).
MundiX News·27 de junho de 2026·6 min de leitura·👁 1 views
A significant disruption has occurred in the digital landscape as Apple has removed all applications belonging to the VK holding company from its App Store. Users are now unable to download or update popular services such as "VKontakte," "VK Music," "VK Messenger," "VK Video," "VK Dating," "Odnoklassniki," "Dzen," and Mail.ru email, among others. Apple representatives stated that the removal was due to sanctions compliance, asserting their obligation to adhere to the laws of the jurisdictions in which they operate. However, VK representatives claim that the applications were removed without prior warning or explanation on June 25, 2026. VK emphasized that the company itself is not under sanctions, a fact confirmed by international and US legal experts who had previously provided this information to Apple.
In an official statement, VK expressed their strong disapproval of Apple's unilateral actions, highlighting that these moves restrict Russian users' access to essential services used daily by tens of millions. The company warned that this would prevent users from receiving crucial push notifications for messages and important events. VK considers Apple's actions against Russian users to be unmotivated and unacceptable. The company assured users that all previously installed VK applications on Apple devices will continue to function. For Android users, VK applications remain fully available, including updates and notifications, across various platforms like RuStore, Google Play, Huawei AppGallery, Samsung Store, Xiaomi Store, and official product websites. As a temporary alternative, VK suggests users access the mobile web version of their services and add it to their iPhone home screens via Safari.
Apple's explanation, provided to the BBC, reiterates that the removals are linked to sanctions compliance, though specific sanctions were not detailed. A similar justification was given by Apple in early June when the Russian messenger app Max was removed from the App Store, also citing sanctions compliance. In response, Russia's Ministry of Digital Development (Mintsifry) has labeled Apple's decision as politically motivated and has officially appealed to the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS). The ministry stated that it has not received a substantiated argument from Apple regarding sanctions requirements and, based on legal opinions, confirms the absence of grounds for blocking VK applications. Mintsifry criticized Apple for disregarding the socially significant functions of the removed apps, which are vital for informing, communicating, and educating Russian citizens, including emergency alerts. The ministry views Apple's actions as unfair competition, aimed at protecting foreign platforms from growing Russian competition, while Apple itself allegedly fails to comply with Russian laws regarding default search engine choices and pre-installed app stores on its devices. Mintsifry has requested an expedited review of these issues by the FAS.
Reactions from Russian legislative bodies have been strongly critical. Artyom Sheikin, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, called the removal an "act of legal arbitrariness" and "revenge for our digital sovereignty," attributing Apple's actions to geopolitical factors and an attempt to create difficulties for Russians as part of an information war. He contrasted this with Russia's adherence to legal norms, citing the temporary blocking and subsequent unblocking of Roblox after compliance. Sergey Boyarsky, a State Duma deputy, accused Apple of engaging in "persecution based on nationality" and transforming into an "instrument of information warfare" due to Russia's "digital successes." Anton Gorelkin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, described Apple's actions as "banal revenge, unleashed at the behest of globalist elites," comparing it to "real terror" and warning of potential loss of trust among Russian users. He urged Apple to explain its decision to deprive millions of access to essential services and dismissed the sanctions excuse, noting that VK is not on any sanctions lists. Andrey Svintsov, another Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, suggested the removals are an attempt to suppress competition as Russian IT businesses expand globally, with Western tech giants seeking to curb their growth. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's press secretary, adopted a more measured tone, stating that explanations will be required from Apple, and that failure to provide them will lead Russian authorities to reassess Apple's reliability as a service provider and decide on future interactions.
🛡️⚡
Pare de pesquisar. Comece a hackear.
O MundiX é seu copiloto de pentest com IA: comandos exatos, análise de outputs e próximo passo na kill chain — em segundos.
Sem cartão para começar · Planos a partir de R$49/mês
A significant disruption has occurred in the digital landscape as Apple has removed all applications belonging to the VK holding company from its App Store. Users are now unable to download or update popular services such as "VKontakte," "VK Music," "VK Messenger," "VK Video," "VK Dating," "Odnoklassniki," "Dzen," and Mail.ru email, among others. Apple representatives stated that the removal was due to sanctions compliance, asserting their obligation to adhere to the laws of the jurisdictions in which they operate. However, VK representatives claim that the applications were removed without prior warning or explanation on June 25, 2026. VK emphasized that the company itself is not under sanctions, a fact confirmed by international and US legal experts who had previously provided this information to Apple.
In an official statement, VK expressed their strong disapproval of Apple's unilateral actions, highlighting that these moves restrict Russian users' access to essential services used daily by tens of millions. The company warned that this would prevent users from receiving crucial push notifications for messages and important events. VK considers Apple's actions against Russian users to be unmotivated and unacceptable. The company assured users that all previously installed VK applications on Apple devices will continue to function. For Android users, VK applications remain fully available, including updates and notifications, across various platforms like RuStore, Google Play, Huawei AppGallery, Samsung Store, Xiaomi Store, and official product websites. As a temporary alternative, VK suggests users access the mobile web version of their services and add it to their iPhone home screens via Safari.
Apple's explanation, provided to the BBC, reiterates that the removals are linked to sanctions compliance, though specific sanctions were not detailed. A similar justification was given by Apple in early June when the Russian messenger app Max was removed from the App Store, also citing sanctions compliance. In response, Russia's Ministry of Digital Development (Mintsifry) has labeled Apple's decision as politically motivated and has officially appealed to the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS). The ministry stated that it has not received a substantiated argument from Apple regarding sanctions requirements and, based on legal opinions, confirms the absence of grounds for blocking VK applications. Mintsifry criticized Apple for disregarding the socially significant functions of the removed apps, which are vital for informing, communicating, and educating Russian citizens, including emergency alerts. The ministry views Apple's actions as unfair competition, aimed at protecting foreign platforms from growing Russian competition, while Apple itself allegedly fails to comply with Russian laws regarding default search engine choices and pre-installed app stores on its devices. Mintsifry has requested an expedited review of these issues by the FAS.
Reactions from Russian legislative bodies have been strongly critical. Artyom Sheikin, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, called the removal an "act of legal arbitrariness" and "revenge for our digital sovereignty," attributing Apple's actions to geopolitical factors and an attempt to create difficulties for Russians as part of an information war. He contrasted this with Russia's adherence to legal norms, citing the temporary blocking and subsequent unblocking of Roblox after compliance. Sergey Boyarsky, a State Duma deputy, accused Apple of engaging in "persecution based on nationality" and transforming into an "instrument of information warfare" due to Russia's "digital successes." Anton Gorelkin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, described Apple's actions as "banal revenge, unleashed at the behest of globalist elites," comparing it to "real terror" and warning of potential loss of trust among Russian users. He urged Apple to explain its decision to deprive millions of access to essential services and dismissed the sanctions excuse, noting that VK is not on any sanctions lists. Andrey Svintsov, another Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, suggested the removals are an attempt to suppress competition as Russian IT businesses expand globally, with Western tech giants seeking to curb their growth. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's press secretary, adopted a more measured tone, stating that explanations will be required from Apple, and that failure to provide them will lead Russian authorities to reassess Apple's reliability as a service provider and decide on future interactions.
📤 Compartilhar & Baixar
🧰 Ferramentas recomendadas
Divulgação: alguns links são patrocinados. Podemos receber comissão se você comprar — sem custo extra para você. Só indicamos o que faz sentido para a comunidade.
