Starting today, Apple products are not available for sales or delivery to Russia. The iconic American technology joins a growing list of Western companies that are now refusing to conduct business in the country.
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Apple Products Are Not Available In Russia
Last Tuesday, the maker of the iPhone, Macbook, iPad, and other tech gadgets decided to stop selling its products in Russia. This is in support of Ukraine, the country Russia invaded last week. With the move, Apple joins a growing number of American companies that showed its opposition to the invasion by pulling out its business. Meanwhile, the Apple Store’s Russian site now lists all Apple products as “unavailable” for purchase or delivery within the country. Making it worse was the fact that Apple does not have a physical Apple Store in Moscow or any other city in Russia. Consequently, anybody living in Russia who wants an Apple device will now need to buy outside Russia. Or, they can get Apple products from the black market at a high markup.
Apple Also Removes Russian State News Outlets
In addition, Apple also announced that it removed Russian state-controlled outlets RT News and Sputnik News from its App Store all over the world. This means that only people located in Russia can access these outlets using their Apple products. In a statement, an Apple spokesperson announced its decision to support Ukraine and issue sanctions to Russia. “We have taken a number of actions in response to the invasion. We have paused all product sales in Russia. Last week, we stopped all exports into our sales channel in the country. Apple Pay and other services have been limited. RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia,” the spokesperson said. In addition, the company also disabled traffic and live incidents in Apple maps in Ukraine. This prevents Russian military forces and supporters from gathering information on Ukraine troop movements.
Challenges For American Companies Doing Business With Russia
The decision to remove Apple products from the Russian market is one of the many challenges facing American companies. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the worldwide condemnation that followed, many firms found themselves stuck in the crossfire. However, many companies see its withdrawal from Russia as a logical step given the economic sanctions the country is facing. Even if they continue doing business there, these companies will have problems shipping their products or collecting payments. Now, Russia is dealing with a deteriorating ruble, closed trade routes, and a lack of access to international banking systems. Prior to Apple’s decision, a number of popular retail companies also withdrew their goods for sale in Russia. This included computer products from Dell, apparel, and footwear from Nike, and American-made vehicles from Ford and GM. In fact, observers expect more companies to follow as major Western countries continue to choke Moscow from international trade. Specifically, the West hopes that by isolating Russia economically, its leadership will reconsider its expansionist plans. Watch the KPIX CBS Bay Area video reporting that Apple suspends all product sales In Russia following the invasion of Ukraine:
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