Apple has removed five applications operated by Russian internet holding VK from the App Store, including the Zen content platform, VK Video, VK Messenger, VK Music and the VK Znakomstva dating service. VK says it has never been placed on any sanctions list and was given no warning before the delistings, according to a report by RBC.
What VK says happened
In a statement cited by RBC, VK's press service said the company "has never been subject to sanctions and has not been included in any sanctions list," adding that this status is backed by assessments from multiple international and American legal advisers. VK said it supplied Apple with relevant legal documentation but that Apple removed the apps unilaterally and without prior notice. The company did not describe any direct explanation it received from Apple regarding the decision.
What still works for existing users
VK confirmed that copies of the apps already installed on Apple devices will keep functioning. However, users will lose push notifications, meaning they will no longer get real-time alerts for messages, video uploads or other activity inside the affected apps. New installs or re-downloads are not available through the App Store, so anyone who deletes the apps or switches devices would currently be unable to restore them through Apple's official channel.
Apple's removal practice and the broader pattern
Apple has said publicly that it removes apps from a country's storefront only in response to requests from that country's authorities, a practice it applies globally to comply with local legal demands. Figures from Apple's own App Store Transparency Report, cited by RBC, show a sharp rise in such removals in Russia: seven apps were taken down in 2022, 12 in 2023, 171 in 2024, and 1,213 so far in 2025. The scale of this year's figure marks a significant jump from prior years, though the report does not break down the specific legal basis cited for each individual removal.
What remains unclear
Neither Apple nor Russian authorities have published a detailed public justification specific to the VK app removals, and VK's account represents the company's own characterization of events. It is not yet clear whether the decision stems from a government order, a company-level compliance review, or another administrative process, nor whether the apps could be reinstated. Users relying on these services for messaging or media should expect reduced functionality until further clarification emerges.