- Russian mobile operators must disable payments with Apple ID
- Russian iPhone users will no longer have access from April 1
- This decision would aim to prevent VPN payments
Russian Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev has ordered mobile operators to disable Apple ID payments in the country.
Local media outlet RBC reports that Shadayev issued the directive to Russia’s “big four” operators – MegaFon, T2 Mobile, MTS and VimpelCom – during a meeting on March 28.
From April 1, 2026, iPhone users in Russia will no longer be able to pay via their Apple ID.
A source told RBC that the move was intended to make accessing a VPN even more difficult. By disabling these payments, authorities hope to limit residents’ ability to pay for premium VPN subscriptions.
However, a separate source told Russian news agency Interfax that the ban is a temporary measure to “encourage tech companies to comply with Russian law” and “force the tech giant to return Russian services to the App Store.”
The move marks another blow to VPN services in the country. Earlier this week, Apple removed several VPN clients from the Russian App Store following requests from the country’s media regulator, Roskomnadzor.
Shadayev has since reported that the government intends to “further reduce VPN usage” through a combination of technical blocks, aggressive fines and new user fees.
Russia’s ban on Apple ID payments: what’s at stake for VPN users?
The Apple ID payment system allows iOS users to manage purchases of apps, digital services like iCloud+ and Apple Music, and third-party subscriptions.
This feature has become a vital lifeline for residents after Visa and Mastercard suspended their operations in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. For many, linking a cell phone bill to an Apple ID has become the last reliable way to pay for Western digital services.
While users can theoretically purchase VPNs through other means, the lack of Visa and Mastercard makes direct website purchases almost impossible for the average Russian user.
If you are residing or traveling to Russia soon, I suggest you download a free and secure VPN app like Proton VPN Free, PrivadoVPN Free, Amnezia VPN Free or Windscribe Free.
For those currently in Russia or planning to travel there, installing a reputable free VPN is highly recommended. Services like Proton VPN Free, PrivadoVPN Free, and Windscribe Free are all solid choices, while open source projects like Amnezia VPN offer specialized tools designed to bypass aggressive state filtering.
It’s also worth remembering that some of the biggest VPN brands also accept cryptocurrency payments, including NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN.
Windscribe and NymVPN – which recently improved their censorship-resistant technology to ensure they work in harsh environments like Russia – also accept crypto payments. Mullvad VPN even lets you pay with cash.
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