Ukrainian vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov has written a letter to Tim Cook requesting that Apple block access to the App Store and stop all Russian sales of the devices.
I’ve contacted @tim_cook, Apple's CEO, to block the Apple Store for citizens of the Russian Federation, and to support the package of US government sanctions! If you agree to have the president-killer, then you will have to be satisfied with the only available site Russia 24. pic.twitter.com/b5dm78g2vS
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 25, 2022
According to Fedorov’s letter, he is asking Apple for help to stop supplying Apple products and services to Russian users as a result of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“I appeal to you and I am sure you will not only hear, but also do everything possible to protect Ukraine, Europe, and finally, the entire democratic world from bloody authoritarian aggression – to stop suppling Apple services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to App Store!
We are sure that such actions will motivate youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression.
A separate Russian App Store is available for users to download apps for iPads, iPhones, Macs, and other devices that Apple sells. Apple also has its own dedicated website for the purpose of selling iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other devices.
New sanctions, imposed by U.S. President Joe Biden, seek to prevent companies from exporting select products to Russia; at the moment, Apple appears to be unaffected since it is still selling products and services in Russia.
Yesterday afternoon, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that he was “deeply concerned” with the situation in Ukraine, and that Apple will be “supporting local humanitarian efforts.”
I am deeply concerned with the situation in Ukraine. We’re doing all we can for our teams there and will be supporting local humanitarian efforts. I am thinking of the people who are right now in harm’s way and joining all those calling for peace.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 25, 2022
Several Russian banks, including the second-largest, VTB, as well as Sovcombank, Otkritie, Novikombank and Promsvyazbank, have been sanctioned by the U.S., the Bank of Russia confirmed on Friday.
According to the announcement, Apple Pay and Google Pay will not be available for users whose cards are issued by these banks. Contactless payments and contact cards will still be available.
In a separate announcement on Friday, the Bank of Russia noted that Sberbank is among the sanctioned banks. The sanctions specifically target Sberbank’s correspondent accounts.
On Wednesday, Apple reportedly removed three apps from its App Store created by the sanctioned Promsvyaz bank. Google reportedly pulled the bank’s main app from its store as well.
On the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, users reportedly withdrew 111.3 billion rubles ($1.3 billion) from Russian banks, the biggest outflow since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. Bank officials have warned that banks could seize retail deposits if sanctions go too far.
Customers online continue to report a significant bank outflow, as ATMs are running dry and there are long lines to cash out cash on Friday.
Ukraine appears to be increasingly embracing crypto in response to Russia’s invasion based on its on-chain data. However, it can be difficult to get data about Russian crypto exposure owing to the lack of legal exchanges that track volumes.
