Apple, Along With Many Others Are Either Limiting Or Banning Their Services In Russia

The iPhone manufacturer said it was “deeply concerned” about the Russian incursion and expressed solidarity with anyone “suffering as a result of the violence”.

Apple Maps, as well as other services like Apple Pay, have been restricted.

Google has also excluded Russian state-funded news organizations like RT from its search results.

According to Russian news agency RIA, mobile banking applications in Russia, such as Russia’s VTB Bank app, may soon cease to work entirely on devices using Apple’s iOS operating system.

As a “safety and precautionary measure for Ukrainian citizens”, Apple banned both traffic and live occurrences in Apple Maps in Ukraine, according to a statement.

Ukrainian vice-Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote an open letter to Apple on Twitter last week, requesting that Russia be cut off from Apple’s services, products, and App Store.

Previously, Google barred Russian government-funded news organizations from advertising tools and services on YouTube.

Google quoted in a blog post “We are committed to complying with all sanctions requirements and we continue to monitor the latest guidance”.

Google Pay has also been restricted in the country, according to the BBC, for individuals who use sanctioned banks. Google Pay, on the other hand, has not been blocked in Russia.

Google also said, “Most of our services (like Search, Maps, and YouTube) currently remain available in Russia, continuing to provide access to global information and perspectives.”

When it comes to international issues, Apple is normally really good at keeping its head down.

For example, it has been criticized for failing to speak out against China’s oppression of Uyghurs.

This is a significant and unexpected action by the iPhone manufacturer.

Global brands have been separating themselves from Russia one by one, making the country appear increasingly isolated.

However, it was far from guaranteed that Apple would take this step. The corporation had begun to be criticized for its lack of response to the Ukraine crisis.

Apple had been contacted for comments by the BBC, but no response had been received until now.

In Russia, there are numerous phone firms and numerous alternatives to Apple products.

People with iPhones will still be able to utilize the App Store; the sales halt will not have a significant impact right now.

However, when brands abandon Russia, citizens will find out that the things they used to buy are no longer available.

Many globally established firms like Nokia, Netflix, Nike, etc. have all agreed to comply with the sanctions imposed on Russia.

Netflix has declared it has “no plans” to add Russian-run channels anymore. Nike, on the other hand, has also stopped its sales to Russia. It gave a reason and said it cannot deliver products.

The world’s biggest shipping companies, Danish Maersk and Geneva-based MSC have banned container shipping to and from the country. The UK has also restricted ships.

Harley-Davidson has also halted the deliveries of motorcycles in the country.

Boeing Co, a US plane manufacturing company, has also announced that it is halting its services for Russian Airlines.