Apple has removed VK, Russia's homegrown Facebook competitor from its App Store worldwide, citing conflicts with British sanctions.
The company said in a statement on the social network's website that the app would continue to work on phones that had already installed it before the takedown, but warned users that there may be difficulties with notifications and payments as a result.
The statement continued that key updates have been implemented on our main products in recent months, which will allow the apps to remain relevant for a long time. Our experts are doing their best to improve the user experience. Apple made a statement about the removal. These apps are being distributed by developers who are majority-owned or majority-controlled by one or more parties sanctioned by the UK government.
In order to comply with these sanctions, Apple has terminated the developer accounts associated with these apps, and the apps can't be downloaded from any App Store, regardless of location. Users who have already downloaded these apps may still be able to use them. The Russian ministry of digital affairs said it had pushed Apple for the reason for the deletion, underlined the social significance and scale of use of the services provided by the Russian company, and said a plan of action would follow the company's response.
Like many western companies, Apple voluntarily scaled back its Russian operations after the country launched its latest attack on Ukraine in February. The country has had to add iPhones to a list of goods that could be imported and resold without permission from the trademark owner, under the so-called parallel import scheme.
The newest tranche of UK sanctions was issued on Monday, in response to the sham referendums held by Russian authorities in occupied Ukraine to demonstrate consent for annexing the territories. The newest sanctions include 39 members of the leadership of Gazprombank and Sberbank, state-linked banks that own a little over half of VK, formerly known as VKontakte.
The UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly, said that sham referendums held at the barrel of a gun cannot be free or fair and we will never recognise their results. They follow a pattern of violence, intimidation, torture, and forced deportations in the areas of Ukraine that Russia has seized.
Today s sanctions will target those behind these sham votes, as well as the individuals who continue to prop up the Russian regime's war of aggression. We will continue to support the Ukrainian people as long as it takes to restore their sovereignty.