As of April 1, Apple has stopped payment processing for purchases made through the App Store and other Apple services in Russia, according to the company.
In a newly updated support document, Apple said that new purchases, in-app purchases, and subscription renewals are no longer available in Russia unless users already have funds stored in their Apple Account balance. Any remaining balance can still be used for eligible purchases.
This change affects a wide range of services, including:
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Apple Arcade
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Apple Fitness+
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Apple Music
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Apple Podcasts subscriptions
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Apple One
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App Store purchases and subscriptions
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Apple TV purchases and subscriptions
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iTunes Store purchases
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iCloud+
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Ringtone and tone purchases
Apple noted that previously purchased apps and content will continue to work as normal. It also confirmed that users will still be able to access their iCloud data even after an iCloud+ subscription expires.
According to reports, the move comes in response to a directive from the Russian government, which is believed to be aiming to pressure Apple into restoring certain local apps that were previously removed due to sanctions related to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Discussion around this topic has been moved to a political news forum due to its sensitive nature, where only eligible members can participate.