Apple Halts All Product Sales in Russia Over Ukraine Invasion
Apple stops exporting and selling products in Russia while removing Russian state-backed news apps from global App Stores. The tech giant takes these steps as a humanitarian response to the ongoing violence in Ukraine.
Apple halts all product sales in Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine, stating that the company stands with all people suffering from the violence. The tech giant stops exporting products into Russian sales channels and completely pauses sales through its local online store. Alongside this sales freeze, Apple removes the RT News and Sputnik News applications from App Stores outside of Russia to limit the spread of state-sponsored media.
The decision comes directly after a public plea from Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who argues that cutting off access to Apple products helps turn Russian youth against the invasion. Apple already limits its Apple Pay service and other online offerings in the region as part of a growing corporate backlash. Nike joins Apple in suspending Russian sales, citing an inability to guarantee product deliveries to customers in the country.
As a safety precaution for Ukrainian citizens, Apple also disables traffic and live-incident features within Apple Maps in Ukraine. While Apple briefly stopped sales in Turkey last year due to economic turmoil, this move in Russia represents a significant geopolitical stand. The company's stock dips slightly following the announcement but ultimately closes down just 1.2 percent as Apple pledges ongoing support for humanitarian aid efforts.