Users in Russia have started complaining about the functionality of…
Users in Russia have started complaining about the functionality of the App Store app store and Apple Music stopped opening for some Russian users. Data from the service Sboy.Rf indicates problems with access to the Apple App Store.
Consensus
- Users in Russia reported problems accessing the App Store starting around July 16.
- App Store availability in Russia dropped to approximately 50% as of July 20.
- Monitoring services like OONI, Downdetector, and 'Sboy.rf' recorded increased anomalies or complaints related to App Store access.
- Users reported that accessing the App Store required a VPN, and it remained inaccessible even when connecting from abroad via Russian IP addresses.
- Apple removed VK apps—including VK Music, VK Video, VK Messenger, Dzen, Odnoklassniki—from its App Store on June 25.
- Russian authorities, including MinCyfry and the Kremlin, criticized Apple's actions as unjustified and politically motivated.
- The Russian government requested an antitrust investigation into Apple’s compliance with local laws by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).
- Russia plans to seek explanations from Apple before deciding on any response.
Points of divergence
- OONI detected a drop in Google Play access in Russia, with availability below 20% on July 20, though users reported no significant issues with the service. — meduza
- Problems with App Store and Apple Music began on July 15, peaking on July 19; Downdetector did not record a sharp increase in complaints during that period. — tvrain
- The issue started on July 15 based on data from the 'Sboy.rf' service. — tg_tvrain
- MinCyfry stated that Apple did not provide an argumented position justifying the removal of VK apps, and no sanctions against VK were found. — interfax
- VK was never under sanctions, according to international legal opinions, and Apple failed to consider MinCyfry’s role in public communication and emergency alerts. — vedomosti
Coverage (9 sources)
- App Store Unavailable for Some Russian Residents: Roskomnadzor Denies Blockade; Authorities May Retaliate Against Apple Over VK Removal — Meduza
- App Store and Apple Music stop opening for some users in Russia — Дождь
- App Store and Apple Music stop opening for some Russian users; data from Sboy.Rf reveals access issues to the app store — Дождь (Telegram)
- App Store and Apple Music stop working for some Russian users — Дождь (Telegram)
- Russia Faces Issues Accessing the App Store — Meduza
- FAS requested Apple to check compliance with antitrust laws after removing VK from App Store — Интерфакс
- Ministry of Digital Development sent a complaint to the Antimonopoly Committee over the removal of VK apps from the App Store — Ведомости
- Peskov: Russia will discuss with Apple the removal of apps from the App Store — Вечерняя Москва
- Peskov points to Apple's unreliability after deleting Russian apps from the App Store — Москва 24
Key entities
- Apple
- Russia
- App
- Apple Music
- App Store
- Dmitry Peskov
- FAS
- Moscow
- Roskomnadzor
- Downdetector
- Sboi
- INTERFAX.RU
- Kremlin
- Max
- Ministry of Digital Development