- Russian mobile operators ordered to disable Apple ID payments
- Russian iPhone users will lose access from April 1
- This move is reportedly aimed at preventing VPN payments
Russia’s Minister of Digital Development, Maksut Shadayev, has ordered mobile operators to disable Apple ID payments in the country.
Local media RBC reports that Shadayev issued the order to the Russian “Big Four” operators – MegaFon, T2 Mobile, MTS, and VimpelCom – during a meeting on March 28.
Starting April 1, 2026, iPhone users across Russia will lose the ability to pay with their Apple ID.
Another source told RBC that the move is an attempt to make VPN access more difficult. By disabling these fees, authorities hope to reduce citizens’ 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.”
This move marks yet another blow to VPN services in the country. Earlier this week, Apple removed several VPN clients from the Russian App Store following demands from the state media regulator, Roskomnadzor.
Shadayev has signaled that the government intends to continue “reducing VPN use” through a combination of technical blocks, aggressive fines, and new usage fees.
Ban on Russian 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 such as iCloud+ and Apple Music, and third-party subscriptions.
This feature has become a lifesaver for residents after Visa and Mastercard suspended operations in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. For many, linking a mobile phone bill to an Apple ID has become the last reliable way to pay for Western digital services.
While users can purchase VPNs through other means, the absence of Visa and Mastercard makes direct website purchases nearly impossible for the average Russian user.
If you are based or will be visiting Russia soon, I suggest downloading a free secure VPN app like Proton VPN Free, PrivadoVPN Free, Amnezia VPN Free, or Windscribe Free.
For those currently in Russia or planning to go there, installing a reputable free VPN is highly recommended. Services like Proton VPN Free, PrivadoVPN Free, and Windscribe Free are all solid options, while open source projects like Amnezia VPN offer special tools designed to bypass aggressive state filtering.
It’s also worth reminding that some of the top VPN companies also accept cryptocurrency payments, including NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN.
Windscribe and NymVPN – which recently developed their anti-censorship technology to ensure they work in challenging regions like Russia – accept crypto payments. Mullvad VPN allows you to pay in cash.
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