Overview
- Apple pulled 16 applications tied to Russia’s VK Group on June 25, 2026, making them unavailable for new downloads or updates on iPhones.
- Apple told reporters it acted to comply with applicable laws and sanctions in the countries where it operates.
- VK and Russian officials say VK is not on U.S. sanctions lists, called the removals unjustified, and demanded immediate explanations from Apple.
- Users who already have the affected apps on iPhones can still use them for now but will lose future updates and may stop receiving push notifications, while Android users can still download the apps.
- Russian agencies have asked regulators to investigate and warned of possible consequences, and analysts say the move ties into a broader push by Moscow to build a state-backed digital ecosystem including the MAX messenger and past App Store disputes.