Apple has removed 25 VPN apps from its App Store in Russia following a formal request from Russia’s state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor.
Two of the apps are Red Shield VPN and Le VPN, The Moscow Times reports.
According to Reuters, demand for VPN services rose dramatically after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and later blocked access to social media sites. That includes Facebook for "discrimination against Russian media" and Instagram after it allowed posts calling for violence against Russian soldiers invading Ukraine.
It's a go-to tactic for President Vladimir Putin. In 2017, Russia passed a law requiring VPN providers to register with Roskomnadzor and block access to websites the government had banned, which later kicked off a battle with Telegram.
A law that went into effect on March 1, meanwhile, banned ads for VPN services in Russia.