Apple Turns Off Payments in Russia

[MacRumors]

As of April 1, payment processing is no longer available for purchases made across the App Store and other Apple services in Russia, according to Apple.

In a new support document, Apple said new purchases, in-app purchases, and subscription renewals are no longer available in Russia unless a user already has funds in their Apple Account balance, which can continue to be used.

This change affects the following services and items:

• Apple Arcade
• Apple Fitness+
• Apple Music
• Apple Podcasts subscriptions
• Apple One
• App Store purchases and subscriptions
• Apple TV purchases and subscriptions
• iTunes Store purchases
• iCloud+
• Ringtone & Tone purchases

Apple said apps and content that users previously bought will remain available, and it ensured that iCloud data will remain accessible after an iCloud+ subscription ends. More details are available in Apple's support document.

Apple reportedly took this action in response to an order from the Russian government, which allegedly hopes that the lost services revenue from Russian users will pressure the company to add some popular Russian apps back to the App Store, after those apps were removed due to sanctions arising from Russia's war with Ukraine. The order would presumably end if Apple were to make those apps available again.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple Turns Off Payments in Russia

 

[alexandr]

In Soviet Russia...

 

[macman01101]

They should turn off payments for the Chicago Bulls.

 

[Astuces iOS]

What's the point? Turn them off in Israel too !

 

[sergekills]

What's the point? Turn them off in Israel too !

Because russian gov issued a decree to turn them off so people won’t be able to purchases VPN subscription to access the truth.

 

[sergekills]

Macrumors, you actually s..k at headlines. It’s the russian gov requested to turn them off. Let’s not forget who is to blame here and who is the actor/opressor in the situation.

 

[jooish]

What's the point? Turn them off in Israel too !

Bro wtf...

 

[Astuces iOS]

Bro wtf...

Yes if the point is to turn them off for every country in war !

 

[contacos]

Surprised to learn the App Store was / is even still active in Russia. I thought it was shut down due to sanctions years ago

 

[Kar98]

Surprised to learn the App Store was / is even still active in Russia. I thought it was shut down due to sanctions years ago

Please, if there’s a buck to be made…

 

[lazyrighteye]

Macrumors, you actually s..k at headlines. It’s the russian gov requested to turn them off. Let’s not forget who is to blame here and who is the actor/opressor in the situation.

Unfortunately, headlines abandoned accuracy for click-ability long ago. Not just here - everywhere.
That headline above definitely checks the "is it clickable?" button.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Good, now do this in China!

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Macrumors, you actually s..k at headlines. It’s the russian gov requested to turn them off. Let’s not forget who is to blame here and who is the actor/opressor in the situation.

Did Apple not turn off payments in Russia? I don't get what irked you?

 

[Happy_John]

Given that the Kremlin is busily turning off "non-Russian" internet anyway, this is more a case of getting out in front of something that is going to happen anyway.

You can't buy apps from sites and App Store platforms you can't access.

 

[Happy_John]

Surprised to learn the App Store was / is even still active in Russia. I thought it was shut down due to sanctions years ago

Yep. That's the uncomfortable part of this story. Apple were not meant to be selling iPhones and iPads in Russia in the first place, since sanctions were imposed post-Ukraine invasion.

But of course they were, albeit indirectly.

 

[omihek]

Did Apple not turn off payments in Russia? I don't get what irked you?

It was what the title inferred, that it was Apple who initiated this change for whatever reason. When in fact Russia ordered them to do it. A better title would have been "Russia orders Apple to turn off payments."

 

[axantas]

Apple removed apps Putin liked to have for his followers.

Wladimir hopes, that they come back.
Let him hope, do not move, stay firm. Perfect.
Since there are no iPhones available in Russia anymore (except the ones smuggled via Khazachstan) The Russian market will not have a lot of signifiance for Apple.

 

[leonremi]

If Apple had any actual morals, they would set all iPhones geolocated in Russian occupied Ukraine to explode while in use.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

It was what the title inferred, that it was Apple who initiated this change for whatever reason. When in fact Russia ordered them to do it. A better title would have been "Russia orders Apple to turn off payments."

I guess one is a headline and one is a "TLDR Headline" for people who don't care to read the article, where said clarity is found. For people reading the article, there is nothing wrong with the headline.

 

[axantas]

If Apple had any actual morals, they would set all iPhones geolocated in Russian occupied Ukraine to explode while in use.

I would not be that rude. There was a time, when iPhones were allowed in Russia and probably many Russians are waiting for the moment this nightmare ends - preferably not in favour for Wladimir - to gain their liberty back.

 

[FatLouie]

If Apple had any actual morals, they would set all iPhones geolocated in Russian occupied Ukraine to explode while in use.

What other violent actions would you like Apple to take?

 

[turbineseaplane]

I hope Tim doesn't get a phone call from Don, after he gets one from his friend Vlad.

"Cupertino: Start up the gold & glass gift bribe machine!"

 

[BGrifter]

If Apple had any actual morals, they would set all iPhones geolocated in Russian occupied Ukraine to explode while in use.

It’s true. If Apple had any actual morals they’d commit insane acts of terrorism to suit the preferences of people posting on the internet.

Damn you Tim Cook for refusing to smite my enemies!

 

[Happy_John]

Apple removed apps Putin liked to have for his followers.

Wladimir hopes, that they come back.
Let him hope, do not move, stay firm. Perfect.
Since there are no iPhones available in Russia anymore (except the ones smuggled via Khazachstan) The Russian market will not have a lot of signifiance for Apple.

Meh, there are as many shiny new iPhones and iPads in Russia as there were shiny new nVidia GPUs in China while such chips were officially not allowed to be sold to China:

In other words, there is no shortage of supply as long as there is demand, and neither Apple nor nVidia are/were particularly concerned with restricting that supply.

The sanctions on consumer goods have really only been "token" sanctions.

 

[canadianreader]

It’s unfortunate there must be artists and creative people that offer paid apps and subscriptions and now they can’t monetize their work.