Russia’s State-Sanctioned Max Messenger Removed From Apple Store

Russia’s state-sanctioned Max messenger was taken down from Apple’s App Store on Wednesday, June 3.

Launched in 2025 by VK, the app has been likened to China’s WeChat, combining messaging, social media, digital ID, payments, banking, and government services in a single platform.

According to the Russian media outlet Meduza, the reason for the removal is unclear, and VK said it is seeking clarification from Apple “to resolve the issue promptly.”

Apple had not issued a statement on the situation as of Thursday.

Astra, an independent Russian outlet, said the app has also stopped sending push notifications to users after its removal from the App Store.

What’s the deal with Max?

Russia’s introduction of Max has been part of the Kremlin’s wider push to control the informational space.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called it a more “secure” platform that meets Russia’s demand for “technological sovereignty,” but the app lacks end-to-end encryption, meaning the Kremlin can access all communications made via the app.

In recent years, Moscow has banned foreign social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, imposed astronomical fines on Google, and severely limited YouTube’s download speeds to deter domestic access.

In 2026, a full ban on Telegram was also imposed in Russia, leading to complaints from locals and reports of a breakdown in communication within the Russian military. Telegram’s founder, Russian-born Pavel Durov, said he had issued updates to bypass the ban in April.

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Critics and observers said Max could allow the Kremlin to spy on its citizens and limit access to unfavorable information.

“Any data that passes through this application can be considered to be in the hands of its owner, and in this case, the hands of the Russian state,” cybersecurity researcher Baptiste Robert, CEO of the French company Predicta Lab, told AFP.