Russian citizens told "switch to Android" after Apple blocks key Russian apps

According to Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report , Russia is the runaway world leader in one category: Demanding that Apple remove apps from its App Store. In 2025, Russia asked that Apple remove 1,213 apps—many of these VPN apps designed to thwart the country's draconian Internet censorship. (Vietnam was number two, requesting that 335 apps be blocked.) Russia is essentially trying to build a closed, spy-friendly, domestic version of the Internet.