Apple has removed several popular VPNs from the Russian App Store — Streisand, V2Box, v2RayTun, and Happ. All of them are no longer available for download with Russian accounts. According to the latest data, more than two dozen similar apps have disappeared from the Russian store. And all of this is happening against the backdrop of VPNs massively ceasing to work in Russia. Let’s break down on what basis this happened, what will happen to already installed apps, and why Android owners are in a different situation for now.
Apple removed popular VPNs from the App Store in Russia
Which VPN Apps Were Removed from the App Store in Russia
Four VPN apps from the App Store that were actively used for traffic routing and proxying were also removed: Streisand, V2Box, v2RayTun, and Happ — Proxy Utility. When trying to open a direct link to any of them, the App Store shows an error — the app is not available in your region.
The apps can no longer be found in the Russian App Store
An interesting detail: the more popular version from the same developer — “Happ — Proxy Utility Plus” — was still available in the Russian App Store at the time of publication. Why one version was removed and not the other has not been explained.
It’s important to understand that the listed apps are not VPN services in the traditional sense. They don’t provide their own servers and don’t connect to a ready-made network with a single button. These are traffic routing tools: users themselves loaded the necessary configuration into them. Such configurations could be used for anything — not necessarily for bypassing restrictions.
Why Apple Removes VPNs from the App Store at Roskomnadzor’s Request
The developers of v2RayTun published a screenshot of a letter from Apple. In it, the company directly states that the app was removed at Roskomnadzor’s request, because “it contains content that is illegal in Russia.” Apple also references its own rules: any app must comply with the laws of the country where it is available.
VPN apps are becoming fewer and fewer. Photo: iOS & iPhone — Gadget Hacks
Roskomnadzor issued the requirement based on paragraph 7 of Article 15.1 of the law “On Information” (Federal Law 149). This article describes the maintenance of a unified register of prohibited resources. However, as media outlets note, no court decisions recognizing these specific apps as prohibited have been found. Using VPNs in Russia is not formally prohibited — restrictions apply to services that fail to comply with requirements to connect to the state register of blocked websites.
According to Roskomnadzor, by the end of February 2026, the agency had restricted access to 469 VPN services in Russia. The current wave of removals is not the first: according to the latest counts, 717 apps in the “Utilities” category, which includes VPN clients, have been subject to removal.
What Will Happen to Already Installed VPNs on iPhone
If the app is already installed on your iPhone or iPad, it will continue to work. Removal from the App Store does not mean automatic removal from the device.
Already installed VPN apps will continue to work but won’t receive updates
But there’s a significant caveat: updates for these apps through a Russian Apple ID account will no longer be delivered. Over time, this could become a problem — without updates, the app may stop working correctly with new iOS versions or lose compatibility with VPN servers.
The workaround users are discussing is to re-download the app from a foreign Apple ID account. From accounts in other regions, all these programs remain available for download and updates. However, this requires either creating a separate Apple ID linked to another country or changing the region of an existing account — which can affect subscriptions and purchases.
VPN on Android: Why Everything Is Still Available on Google Play
At the time of publication, similar apps on Google Play are still available for download in Russia. Google’s policy regarding regional blocks differs from Apple’s approach: the company tends to block specific apps by court order rather than preemptively removing entire categories at the regulator’s request.
On Android, VPN apps can be installed from third-party sources; on iPhone — only through the App Store
However, this doesn’t mean Google Play will remain a “safe haven” forever. Roskomnadzor regularly sends Google requests to remove VPN apps from the Russian store. Pressure on both platforms is growing, and the situation could change.
There’s another fundamental difference: on Android, you can install an app from any source — an APK file, a third-party store, or RuStore. Apple doesn’t offer this option: iPhone works only with the App Store (except in EU countries and Japan, where Apple has allowed alternative stores).
What to Do If Your VPN Was Removed from the App Store
If you use one of the disappeared apps, keep the following in mind. First and foremost — do not delete the app from your device, as reinstalling it from a Russian account will no longer be possible. Monitor the situation — the list of removed apps may expand.
This story is part of a bigger trend. Apple regularly complies with Roskomnadzor’s demands to remove apps from the Russian App Store. The company explains this as the need to comply with local legislation in order to maintain its market presence. For iPhone owners in Russia, this means a gradual narrowing of app choices — especially in categories related to VPNs and bypassing restrictions. Those who regularly use such tools should plan backup options for accessing the software they need in advance.
