“They are enemies” — that’s how Rostelecom CEO Mikhail Oseevsky answered a question about Apple. The reason was sharp: on June 3, the MAKS messenger disappeared from the App Store, and iPhone owners immediately found that they were no longer receiving notifications about messages and calls. Bold headlines and predictions of a “mirror response” followed. Let’s figure out what actually happened and whether this threatens an App Store blockage or disruption of other Apple services in Russia.
The reaction to MAKS removal from the App Store has been quite sharp
Why MAKS Disappeared From the App Store
On June 3, something few expected happened: MAKS vanished from the App Store — across all regional stores at once, not just the Russian one. Apple, as is its custom, provided no explanation for the decision. The messenger’s press service confirmed the removal and said it had sent a request to Cupertino asking them to clarify the reasons.
The consequences for users are concrete. Downloading MAKS from the App Store is no longer possible. The already installed app continues to work, but notifications about new messages and calls don’t come through — push notifications have stopped working. To avoid missing important messages, users have to open the messenger manually.
Along with the messenger’s removal, push notifications also stopped working
Head of the Ministry of Digital Development Maksut Shadaev stated that iOS accounts for 25-30% of MAKS’s audience, and the restrictions affected more than 20 million people. The number is impressive, and it’s exactly what explains the level of reaction.
An important detail for context: at the end of April, MAKS had already received a “malware” label — it was assigned by Cloudflare but withdrawn a day later. So there was plenty of noise surrounding the messenger even before this.
Rostelecom’s Statement About Apple: Key Points From the SPIEF Speech
On the sidelines of SPIEF, Mikhail Oseevsky spoke in the harshest terms: “They are enemies.” According to him, against the backdrop of MAKS’s promotion, removal from the App Store is “an absolutely unfriendly step.”
But what follows is a far more important part of the quote, which headlines usually lose. Oseevsky emphasized that such actions “should not automatically lead” to similar steps from the Russian side. He added that he hopes for additional consultations from VK colleagues.
In other words, the loudest speaker of the day himself rejected the idea of a mirror response. This is not a call to “ban Apple” but an emotional assessment of the situation. The Ministry of Digital Development also spoke with restraint: Shadaev promised to resolve the issue and assured that “everything will be fine.”
Could iPhones and Apple Products Be Banned in Russia?
Here it’s worth separating emotions from actual mechanisms. There is no direct ban on iPhones in Russian legislation, and words about “enemies” don’t create one.
It’s unlikely that Apple products could be banned
What argues against the radical scenario? First, the audience is too large. Those 20-plus million users are voters, businesses, and government agencies that rely on iPhones and iPads. Hurting them just to respond to Apple benefits no one.
Second, a mirror response has already been rejected at the level of the very speaker who called Apple enemies.
Third, Apple wasn’t blocked for non-compliance with Law 194-FZ (effective since September 1, 2025), which requires not interfering with RuStore installation, so it’s unlikely anything will be done this time either.
What is quite realistic is targeted pressure. Russia already knows how to act this way: since April 1, 2026, the “Big Four” carriers have disabled Apple service payments from mobile accounts. So the more likely scenario is not an Apple ban, but new restrictions around services and promotion of RuStore.
What Will Happen With the App Store, iCloud, and Apple ID in Russia
Completely shutting down the App Store, iCloud, or Apple ID on Russian territory is technically and legally difficult — these are user services, not a standalone app in a catalog. Experts have repeatedly noted: it’s practically impossible to force Apple to do something against its own rules, and a service shutdown would more likely come at the initiative of the company itself rather than through Russian laws.
App Store blockages shouldn’t be expected either
So let’s keep two sober conclusions in mind. First: the MAKS story is about a specific app, not about access to the entire store. Second: anything you read about a “retaliatory strike” and “the end of Apple in Russia” should be taken with a grain of salt. For now, these are rumors and emotions, not decisions.
In short — it’s too early to panic. Your iPhone works, the App Store is open, and installed apps haven’t gone anywhere. And if you decide to delete the messenger, remember: conversations won’t disappear when you delete it, but you won’t be able to reinstall it. MAKS itself, if you need it, can easily be installed on Android from RuStore, Google Play, or from the project’s official website. We’ll keep monitoring the situation and update this article as soon as there’s something concrete.
