Russia Demands Apple Pre-Install State Apps and Default Search Engines by July 15 or Pay $52 Million

On July 1, 2026, Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) issued a formal warning to Apple, accusing the company of discriminating against Russian search engines and software . The FAS demanded that Apple make Russian search engines — such as Yandex or Mail.ru — the default on iOS devices for Russian users, rather than requiring users to manually change settings from a foreign default . It also demanded that Apple pre-install state-backed Russian apps, specifically the Max messenger and the RuStore app marketplace, on all iPhones and iPads sold in Russia .

Apple has been given a compliance deadline of July 15, 2026 . If it fails to comply, it faces a potential fine of up to $52 million (approximately 4 billion rubles), calculated as a percentage of its Russian revenue .

What prompted this warning

The FAS warning follows a rapid escalation in June 2026:

• Early June — Removal of Max: Apple removed the state-backed Russian messaging app Max from the App Store, citing sanctions compliance . Max is developed by the Russian Ministry of Digital Development and is part of a state push for domestic communication tools.
• June 25 — Removal of VK apps: Apple then removed nearly all apps belonging to the Russian tech holding VK (including VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Mail.ru, VK Music, and others) from the App Store without advance notice . VK called the move "completely unprompted and unacceptable" .
• Kremlin response: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was waiting for explanations from Apple and warned that decisions about future interaction with the company would depend on those explanations . Russia's Digital Development Ministry called the removals "politically motivated" .

Why compliance is extremely difficult for Apple

Apple halted all product sales in Russia and stopped exports into the country in March 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine . Complying with the FAS demands creates a direct conflict with Western sanctions:

• Pre-installing Max: Apple removed Max from the App Store specifically to comply with international sanctions . The FAS now demands Apple pre-install that same app on devices — which would contradict Apple's own stated sanctions compliance position.
• Pre-installing RuStore: RuStore is Russia's state-backed alternative app marketplace. Russian legislation has been moving toward forcing Apple to allow sideloading and third-party app stores on iOS . For Apple to pre-install a competing marketplace that could bypass the App Store's commission and review system — while also potentially violating sanctions on facilitating Russian tech infrastructure — would be a fundamental break from its global business model.
• No direct sales channel: Since Apple no longer sells products in Russia, enforcing pre-installation requirements on new devices sold through parallel import channels is logistically and legally ambiguous.

Long-running pattern of regulatory clashes

Today's warning is the latest chapter in years of confrontation between Apple and Russian authorities:

• 2021: The FAS fined Apple $12 million (about 906 million rubles at the time) for "abusing its dominant position" in the app distribution market .
• 2022–2023: In January 2023, the FAS imposed a fine of 1.2 billion rubles (approximately $17.4 million at the time) after finding that Apple forced Russian developers to use its own in-app payment system and limited alternative payment methods .
• Ongoing pressure: Throughout 2024–2025, Russian authorities repeatedly demanded Apple set Russian search engines as the default and pre-install RuStore, threatening "tough measures" for non-compliance .

The current $52 million threat is the largest financial penalty Russia has dangled against Apple to date, and it comes at a moment of maximum tension — after Apple pulled multiple Russian apps from the App Store and Russia has escalated its legislative push to break Apple's control over iOS software distribution.