Russia is increasing the pressure on Apple and is threatening a fine of millions

The Russian antitrust authority requires Apple to pre-install domestic software on all iOS devices. Failure to do so could result in a fine of millions. However, the implementation of the requirement is unrealistic for a very specific reason.

Ultimatum for software specifications

The Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service has officially warned Apple. The authority requires that certain Russian software be preinstalled on all devices sold in the country with the iOS operating system by July 15, 2026. According to the Reuters news agency, it includes Messenger Max, the app marketplace RuStore and domestic search engines. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to four billion rubles (around 45 million euros). The antitrust watchdogs accuse the iPhone manufacturer of setting foreign search engines as the standard and thereby discriminating against Russian developers. Users must manually change their settings to use local services. This creates discriminatory conditions and violates the rights of consumers.

Background to the app dispute

The situation escalated a few weeks ago after Apple removed several applications from the state-controlled technology company VK from the App Store in June. In addition to Messenger Max, these included Mail.ru’s email services and the Odnoklasseniki social network. Apple justified the action by complying with international sanctions. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development described the deletion as a politically motivated decision and filed a complaint with the authority. A Kremlin spokesman demanded explanations and questioned future cooperation with the US company. This creates a complex legal situation for Apple, as the company has to comply with US sanctions on the one hand and is confronted with local regulations on the other.

Selling on the gray market

The practical implementation of Russian demands is considered unlikely. Apple stopped official sales of its hardware in Russia back in March 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine. New iPhones and iPads currently only reach the country via the gray market. Since Apple no longer produces special device configurations for the Russian market, the technical basis for the required pre-installations is missing.

Although Apple has stopped hardware sales, the App Store remains accessible in Russia. In the past, the company responded to official requests and removed VPN services, for example. However, giving in to the deep integration of state-funded software into the operating system is considered impossible. The threatened penalty would hardly affect Apple financially anyway, but could lead to further restrictions on the remaining services.