Apple removed a broad suite of Russian tech group VK's apps from the App Store, including VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Mail.ru, and several others, affecting millions of users. VK denied being subject to any sanctions, calling the removal unprompted and without warning. Apple has not publicly explained the wider sweep, though it previously cited sanctions when removing VK's Max messenger. The complication lies in VK's CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko being personally sanctioned by the US, EU, and UK, even though the corporate entity itself is not listed. The Kremlin demanded an explanation from Apple and suggested Russians switch operating systems, fitting into a broader push toward domestic software. A similar removal occurred in 2022 and was reversed within a month, suggesting the current standoff may be temporary.
