Tech Giants Target Russian Apps in Ongoing Battle

Apple removed Russian state-backed Max messenger from App Store.
Russia requires civil servants to use Max for government services.
Max combines messaging, banking, and government functions.
Russia blocked WhatsApp and Telegram access.
Putin promoted Max as a 'secure' alternative for technological sovereignty.
Max lacks end-to-end encryption and stores data in Russia.
Existing Max users can still use it, but new downloads are blocked.
Apple and Google removed other Russian apps, sparking a cat-and-mouse game.
Copyright © 2026 Minimalist News. All Rights Reserved.