- Apple removes AdGuard’s TrustTunnel client from the Russian App Store
- The open source tool has no built-in circumvention capabilities
- Russia expands crackdown as Google resists similar takedowns
AdGuard’s open source VPN client TrustTunnel has been removed from the Russian version of the Apple App Store.
The app, which was removed from the Russian App Store this week, is developed by AdGuard and serves as a client application allowing users to connect to VPN servers. However, it does not provide built-in evasion capabilities on its own.
As the provider reported, Russian authorities successfully requested its removal as part of their broader efforts to limit access to tools – including top VPN services – that can help residents bypass internet restrictions.
This follows a trend of Apple removing VPN apps from its Russian storefront. In 2024 alone, the tech giant has removed at least 60 VPN apps, targeting several well-known providers.
In contrast, Google has so far resisted similar requests, leaving Android users with more options for now. Yet pressure on all platforms continues to grow as the Russian government tightens its controls on internet access.
The removal of TrustTunnel: why a simple customer was banned
The removal of TrustTunnel marks a shift in how authorities target internet infrastructure.
On April 28, 2026, AdGuard claimed to have received an email from Apple informing it that the app would be removed because it “includes content that is illegal in Russia.” The notice cited a complaint from Roskomnadzor, Russia’s federal media regulator, reminding developers of their responsibility to comply with local laws.
This is not the first time that AdGuard has encountered Russian censorship. Their main VPN app AdGuard was one of dozens of VPN apps removed from the Russian App Store in July 2024.
AdGuard notably clarified that TrustTunnel is strictly a “client application”. It contains no servers and offers no built-in workaround capabilities. Users need to configure it manually with external server details. Despite this neutrality, regulators considered the simplified interface as a tool to reduce barriers to entry to circumvent state filters.
The removal of the app leaves iOS users in Russia without a key open source option for managing VPN connections. This, after removing several proxy tools and VPN clients that allow users to connect to their own private servers or proxy setups, in March.
These incidents highlight a broader strategy: authorities are now targeting the tools that enable connections, not just the full VPN services themselves. Even “neutral” software is swept aside, reducing the number of privacy tools available to ordinary users.
Russia steps up crackdown on VPNs
Beyond removing individual apps, the Russian government is moving to tighten control over how its citizens access the internet.
Reports suggest that authorities are considering establishing a “whitelist” of approved VPNs, which would legalize only state-sanctioned services while criminalizing others. The plan aims to balance business needs with state control, but it is facing delays due to technical hurdles.
Additionally, proposals to tax VPN traffic have emerged, which could make privacy tools prohibitive for ordinary people.
Surveillance risks are also increasing. Digital rights groups warn that major Russian apps are increasingly capable of detecting VPN use, allowing entities to identify and target users who try to hide their activity.
As the government restricts legal avenues for secure connections, the window for open Internet access in Russia continues to close.
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