iPhone users in Russia can no longer buy Apple apps or subscriptions

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In summary:

Macworld reports that Apple has stopped allowing Russian iPhone users to purchase new apps, in-app content, or subscriptions through its billing system as of April 1.
This restriction reportedly stems from an order by Russia’s Ministry of Digital Affairs and affects millions of users who can no longer add funds to their Apple accounts.
Existing purchases and subscriptions remain accessible, but subscriptions will not auto-renew, marking another significant limitation following Apple’s 2022 iPhone sales cessation in Russia.

Beginning April 1, iPhone users in Russia can no longer buy any new digital content or services with Apple’s billing system. That includes paid apps and in-app purchases, Apple subscriptions such as Apple Music, Apple One, or iCloud+, or adding funds to an Apple account balance.

Current purchases will remain available, as will access to subscription services that have been paid, but subscriptions made through Apple’s billing will not renew. Russian users who have a current balance on the Apple Account can continue to spend it, Apple says, but they will not be able to add more funds.

Apple says that data held in iCloud+ will continue to be accessible after those subscriptions end. The Moscow Times reports there are some 16 million iPhone users in the country. More information is available in a recently updated Apple Support document.

This move was allegedly made to comply with an order from the Ministry of Digital Affairs in Russia, which likely has several motivations. First, it believes Apple is blocking popular Russian apps and payment systems. Second, it wants to prevent users from using Russian credit cards to purchase foreign goods using loopholes like third-party digital account balances. And third, the Russian government wants to crack down on VPN services that are used to circumvent its internet censorship and geographic blocks.

Apple hasn’t sold iPhones in Russia since 2022, when it “paused all product sales in Russia” following the invasion of Ukraine.

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