Apple Inc., Blocks Russian Mir Cards To Use Apple Pay Service

JAKARTA - The technology giant from the United States, Apple Inc., has suspended its Apple Pay service for Russia's Mir card payment system. This was revealed by Russia's largest lender and payment system bank on Friday, March 25. Apple's decision closes a loophole that would allow Russians to continue using the service.

Apple Inc has restricted the use of Apple Pay, which started operating in Russia in 2016, on March 1. This comes after Russia sent tens of thousands of troops to invade Ukraine on February 24. They also ban Mastercard and Visa cardholders from Russia from using this service.

But according to the Russian National Card Payment System (NSPK), Russian-made payment system Mir remained connected to Apple Pay until it was removed last Thursday.

"Apple has notified NSPK that it is suspending support for Mir cards in the Apple Pay payment service. Starting March 24, users will not be able to add new Mir cards to the service. Apple will be discontinuing all operations of previously added cards over the next few days," NSPK said, as quoted by Reuters, last Friday.

Russia's biggest lending bank, Sberbank, said that Apple had notified the bank of its decision to further restrict access to its Apple Pay service.

"Further use of Mir cards in Apple Pay will not be available," the bank said.

This is an important part of Apple's efforts to comply with calls from Western authorities, particularly the United States, for the tech giant to stop all services to Russia.