Apple has reportedly begun removing Virtual Private Network (VPN) apps from the Russian App Store that let users set up custom connections to bypass internet restrictions.

The Russian tech news outlet Kod Durova said the removals included proxy and VPN service applications Streisand, V2Box, v2RayTun, and Happ Proxy Utility.

App Censorship, a platform that tracks App store availability globally, said on X that the removal of the apps occurred “sometime around March 27th/28th.”

Kod Durova reported that these apps were still available to download via Google Play for Android users in Russia.

The news comes as Reuters reported that Russia's digital minister announced a war on VPN usage.

"The task is to reduce VPN usage," Digital Minister Maksut Shadayev said on state-backed messenger MAX late on Monday.

He said decisions had been taken to restrict access to several unidentified foreign platforms without giving details.

While it’s not clear why Apple has been so quick to take action, a letter from the tech giant to the developer behind v2RayTun – published via TechRadar – suggests it was a compliance move.

“We are writing to inform you that your app has been removed from the App Store in Russia because it contains content that is illegal in Russia,” the letter said.

“Apple is obligated to comply with local laws and regulations in the countries where it operates," it added.

While the apps are no longer available to download from the Russian App Store, they still work for those who already have them installed, but they won’t receive updates such as security patches, bug fixes, or new features, making them less safe and reliable over time.

What are VPN clients?

VPN clients and proxies work by acting as customizable routing tools for internet traffic.

Instead of sending your data straight to a website, users can send it through a server of their choosing or set one up themselves – often in another country.

This process, which is often done manually and requires some technical skill, can disguise the source of the connection and help bypass local restrictions.

Because they are flexible and not tied to a single provider, they are harder to block – and why they’re often targeted in regions that apply tighter censorship laws.

Their removal in Russia marks part of a broader internet crackdown following a 2024 law banning the sharing of information about bypassing internet restrictions. Authorities such as Roskomnadzor are increasingly pressuring tech firms to comply with local laws.

For the past two weeks, residents have reported connectivity issues on Telegram following a statement issued by Roskomnadzor last month outlining its intention to slow access to Telegram which marked a partial restriction of the social media platform.

The country’s government has also banned US-owned social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X, and most recently blocked WhatsApp.

Authorities are now actively encouraging people to sign up to state-backed options such as Max.

“That’s not cool, Apple”

Upon learning of the VPN app removal, Telegram founder Pavel Durov said Russia was targeting apps that helped users bypass Russia’s deep packet inspection (DPI), which monitors and blocks traffic.

“That’s not cool, Apple,” Durov added.

A separate piece of news, also involving Apple, highlights how Western governments are strictly enforcing Russia-related sanctions.

Apple’s European distribution arm was fined by the UK after accidentally sending money to Russian video-streaming service Okko, which is linked to a sanctioned company.

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