Apple removed all VK apps from App Store globally, angering Russian authorities

Apple removed all applications belonging to Russian tech holding VK from the App Store on June 25, 2026, citing sanctions compliance. Russian authorities called the move politically motivated, while questions arise about whether iPhones could eventually be restricted in Russia.

Apple on June 25, 2026, removed every application belonging to Russian tech holding VK from its App Store worldwide, not just in Russia, meaning users cannot bypass the removal by switching account regions, a workaround commonly used to access VPN apps blocked in the Russian store.

The American company told BBC Russia Service that the decision was made to comply with the laws of "jurisdictions in which it operates," citing sanctions, though Apple declined to specify which sanctions applied in this particular case. The same explanation had already been given in early June when the VK-ecosystem messenger "Max" was abruptly pulled from the store.

Russia Calls It Political

Russia's Ministry of Digital Development labelled the removal "politically motivated" and characterised it as an act of "unfair competition." The ministry also accused Apple of failing to comply with Russian legislation and asked the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) to respond swiftly to the alleged violations.

However, the FAS does not have the authority to block internet services. The agency can only issue Apple a compliance order and levy an administrative fine. A 2018 FAS proposal to gain court-sanctioned blocking powers was criticised by the Ministry of Economic Development and never made it to the State Duma.

What Happens to Already-Installed Apps

Apps already installed on users' devices continue to function, but have stopped receiving push notifications and will no longer receive updates, meaning their features will gradually become obsolete and security vulnerabilities will go unpatched. Russian banks that faced a similar situation due to sanctions now install their apps on iPhones manually, in-person at their own offices, a workaround that would be difficult for VK to replicate at scale.

Could iPhones Be Blocked in Russia?

The more alarming question being raised is whether Russian iPhones could be rendered unusable. Under a law on communications that took effect on March 3, 2026, Russian telecom operators are required to suspend services at the request of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in cases defined by presidential decree, though those specific cases have not yet been established.

Technically, operators could identify all iPhones on their networks using IMEI codes, which encode data about the device manufacturer and model. This would prevent affected users from making calls, sending SMS messages, or accessing mobile internet, leaving Wi-Fi as the only option.

FSB Claims and Precedents

Such a drastic move appears unlikely under normal circumstances, given that it would disconnect tens of millions of Russians from mobile networks simultaneously. However, the FSB has previously provided potential justifications: in 2023, it claimed to have uncovered an "intelligence operation by American special services" conducted through Apple devices, alleging that Apple cooperated with the NSA and that its privacy policy was not reflected in reality.

In June 2026, the FSB announced the exposure of a further "large-scale foreign intelligence operation" targeting senior Russian officials via malware installed on their phones, with criminal cases opened on charges of unauthorised computer access and the creation and distribution of malicious software. Whether this new case involves hacked iPhones or is connected to the 2023 allegations remains unclear.

For now, iPhone users in Russia who rely on a good VPN can still access Apple services normally. The removal of VK apps from the global App Store marks a significant escalation in tensions between Apple and Moscow, but a full shutdown of Apple's ecosystem in Russia remains, for the moment, a theoretical rather than imminent threat.