June 25, 2026 Moskva News Agency Russian tech company VK accused Apple on Thursday of removing its apps from the App Store, calling the move “completely unprompted and unacceptable.” “Apple is cutting off Russian users from highly popular services used by tens of millions of people every single day,” VK said in a statement. The company warned iPhone users that they will no longer receive push notifications for its suite of apps, which includes the social media platforms VKontakte and Odnoklassniki. The Moscow Times was able to confirm that VK apps are no longer available on the App Store. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that the Russian government expects an explanation from Apple for the removal of VK apps and advised Russians to switch to other operating systems. Apple previously removed VK’s apps from its App Store in September 2022 following British sanctions, though it restored access less than a month later. In its statement on Thursday, VK said it has “never been subject to sanctions and has never appeared on any sanctions list.” VK CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko, who is the son of Kremlin adviser Sergei Kiriyenko, is currently under U.S., EU and British sanctions. While VK apps remain available to Android users, the removal from iOS deals a blow to a company that has become a cornerstone of Russia’s efforts to build domestic alternatives to foreign tech platforms and tighten state control over the country’s digital infrastructure. Earlier this month, Apple removed Russia’s state-backed messaging app Max from the App Store to comply with sanctions. Read more about: VKontakte , Technology Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more VK Received $579M in Russian State Funds to Build YouTube Rival – Kommersant The allocation accounted for nearly 10% of the Digital Development Ministry’s total spending of $6.08 billion, Kommersant reported. 2 Min read Former VK Chief Takes Over Russian Gaming Studio Behind World of Tanks Lesta Games took over Wargaming's Russian and Belarusian assets after it left the countries following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 2 Min read Russia’s VK to Launch Copycat of China’s WeChat – Vedomosti Dubbed “Max,” the beta version will reportedly feature a standalone messenger, a payment system, mini-apps and a chatbot constructor for business owners... 1 Min read Russia’s VK Developing Homegrown Tinder Alternative Tinder’s parent company announced it is exiting Russia over its commitment to "protecting human rights" amid the war in Ukraine. 2 Min read
Russia
Putin discusses domestic security, relations with neighbors with Security Council
• What happened: Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council to discuss domestic security and relations w...