For No Reason, Apple Removes All Russian VK Apps on App Store

VK apps from Russia were removed on the App Store. (photo: pixabay dock)

JAKARTA - VK, the Russian technology conglomerate that owns the social network Vkontakte, with hundreds of millions of downloads announced that its app has been removed from the App Store line of Apple's app store.

The statement in Russian translated more or less says "some VK apps are blocked by Apple" but that it will "continue to develop and support iOS apps."

Russia's Ministry of Digital Affairs told state-controlled media outlet RT that it was investigating "the reasons why Apple removed the VK app and developer accounts, as well as underscoring the social significance and scale of use of the services provided by the Russian company." The Vkontakte application itself is still available on the Google Play Store.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, its government has blocked several American social media sites, including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. The US and other governments have also sanctioned many individuals and businesses affiliated with the Russian government, including the CEO of the VK Group and President Vladimir Putin's ally, Vladimir Kiriyenko.

VKontakte was created in 2006 by Pavel Durov, an expert who was eventually expelled from the company. He said there would be no turning back “after I publicly refused to cooperate with the authorities. They can't stand me." He then focused on his encrypted messaging app, Telegram.

According to SimilarWeb, Apple removing the VK app means that Russian iPhone users will no longer have access to apps for the country's fifth most popular site. The same goes for other applications from VK such as Mail.ru, VK Music, and Youla classifieds. The company told Russian news outlet Interfax that the app could continue to function but there could be issues with notifications and payments.

Interfax also reported on Tuesday, September 27 that VK sold the assets of its gaming division, My.Games to LETA Capital head Alexander Chachava, a Russian entrepreneur based in the Cayman Islands and raised $642 million for close the deal.

It will continue to be run by existing executives, and VK has been touting it as a Russian alternative to Steam and the Epic Games Store after Western sanctions blocked many sales of digital games in the country.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Verge about removing the VK app from their app store. Earlier this year, Apple also stopped selling its products in the country and made certain Russian news apps inaccessible from anywhere but Russia. This comes just weeks after sanctions prevented Russian bank customers from using Google Pay and Apple Pay.

The VK app once had a very prominent place on the iPhone. Last year, a law went into effect requiring tech companies to install Russian-made apps on devices sold in the country.