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Apple Confirms Removal of Russian Government Linked Max App Over Western Sanctions Apple said it complies with the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it operates and that the Max messenger was removed from the App Store united24media.com/world/apple-...

Apple Confirms Removal of Russian Government Linked Max App Over ... US technology company Apple has confirmed that the Russian messaging application Max was removed from the App Store due to Western sanctions. The company provided the explanation in a comment to the Russian service of the BBC on June 5. We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field. DONATE NOW Apple said it complies with the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it operates and that the Max messenger was removed from the App Store in accordance with sanctions compliance requirements. The company did not specify which sanctions prompted the decision. Several days earlier, on June 3, Apple has removed the Russian state-backed messaging platform Max from the App Store, preventing new users from downloading the application. Read more Category Anti-Fake Digital Gulag: Russia Forces Its Spy App on Every New Phone Aug 15, 2025 19:22 VK, the developer of the government-linked messenger, confirmed the removal, stating that the app is no longer available through Apple’s digital marketplace. According to the company, users who had already installed Max on their devices will stil…

Apple says sanctions rules forced it to drop Russia’s state-backed Max app <p>Apple has commented on the removal of Max, the Russian “national” messaging app, from the App Store.<p>

Apple removes Russian government-backed Max from App Store over sanctions Max is made by VK Apple removes Russian government-backed Max from App Store over sanctions Technology Jun 05, 2026 Apple just removed the Russian government-backed Max messenger app from the App Store, saying it was removed to comply with sanctions. Max is made by VK, whose CEO has been under US UK and E.U. sanctions since 2022. The move means new downloads and updates are blocked, though people who already have the app can still use it for now. Max mandatory in Russian state institutions Max isn't just any chat app: it's required for Russian schools, state companies, and civil servants. Despite being promoted as "secure," it lacks end-to-end encryption and keeps user data only in Russia. The ban is part of a bigger trend: Apple (and Google) have been removing apps tied to sanctioned Russian groups. In response, developers are reportedly trying to sneak their apps back in by disguising them under different names.