Russia Threatens Apple with $52M Fine for Devices It Doesn’t Even Sell There
Felipe Simo
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Russia’s anti-monopoly watchdog is threatening to hit Apple with a $52M fine for allegedly discriminating against state-backed apps and not automatically installing them on every iPhone, reports Reuters.
In late June, Kremlin officials demanded an explanation from Apple as to why apps published by Russian internet and technology company VK had been removed from the App Store without “any warning or explanation.”
The Kremlin’s demand came following VK’s complaints about the removal, which it considers “unjustified and unacceptable.” Apps removed by Apple included social media, video platforms, and messaging apps. Russian officials warned they may drop their cooperation with Apple as a whole.
Now, the country has warned Apple of stricter measures, saying the company could be hit with a fine of almost 4 billion roubles (approximately $51.6 million) for “discriminating” against Russian software. Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service said Apple could avoid the fine by making sure iPhones have the MAX messenger and Russian search engines pre-installed. Authorities have imposed a July 15 deadline for Apple to comply with their demands.
Despite Russian demands that Apple include the MAX messenger app and Russian search engine among the pre-installed software on iPhones and iPads sold in the country, there is just one small problem. Apple hasn’t sold its products in Russia since March 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine! Nor does the company have any Authorized Apple Retailers in the country.
The loss of the Russian market didn’t exactly hit Apple hard in its pocketbook, as sales inside Russian borders accounted for only a bit more than 1% of the Cupertino firm’s global sales.
Any iPhone or iPad sold inside Russian borders has been sold via grey and black markets, meaning the devices do not come with the MAX messaging app preinstalled. That said, the App Store is available on iOS devices in Russia, although new subscriptions and payment options for Apple Services have been completely unavailable in the country since Russian authorities forced the closure of the remaining mobile carrier billing loopholes on April 1, 2026. (Separately, Apple’s Irish subsidiary was fined by the UK in March 2026 over historical 2022 platform payments.)
We likely will not see Apple go so far as to develop a Russian-specific product configuration, as it simply doesn’t sell its devices in the country. However, it could restore the apps in question to the App Store.
As noted by Mactrast, Apple has been known to kowtow to app-related demands from the Kremlin, initially caving into to Russian demands to preinstall apps in 2021. However, the iPhone was pulled from sale in the country before the state launched the MAX messaging app.
We’ve seen similar past battles between Apple and the Kremlin, but the battles have involved the Russians forcing Apple to remove apps from iPhone and iPads, not forcing them to install them.
In December 2025, iDrop News reported that Russian authorities had ordered FaceTime blocked in the country, claiming that Apple’s encrypted audio and video communication service was being used for criminal activity. Restrictions had already been enforced against YouTube, WhatsApp, and Telegram, after making similar allegations against those platforms. Coincidentally (where’s the “SARCASM” button on this thing?), the restriction came following the launch of the Russian government’s own rival app, called, yes, you guessed it, MAX.
