Apple has removed 25 VPN apps, including NordVPN and Proton VPN, from the Russian App Store at Roskomnadzor’s request. These apps were used to access content deemed illegal in Russia. Affected VPN vendors were notified by Apple and advised to contact Roskomnadzor for more information. This action is part of Russia’s ongoing efforts to block VPN services since the 2017 law banning them. Despite previous attempts to enforce this law, Apple’s compliance has been notably effective. The crackdown on VPNs intensified following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
