In response to a directive from Russia’s state communications regulator Roskomnadzor, Apple has taken down 25 VPN apps from its App Store, as reported by Interfax via Reuters.

The demand for VPN services in Russia has seen a significant increase since President Vladimir Putin’s military actions in Ukraine in 2022. This surge is due to heightened censorship and restricted access to Western social media platforms.

Many Russians have turned to VPNs to circumvent government censorship and access content that is otherwise blocked. Despite previous efforts by Roskomnadzor to block major VPN services, many remained accessible until the recent crackdown, which blacklisted approximately 150 VPN services with plans to eliminate them entirely.

The escalating tensions between Russia and tech companies like Apple revolve around content regulation, data control, and censorship issues. These conflicts are further fueled by geopolitical events and the Russian government’s tight grip on information flow.

Apple has a track record of complying with Russian regulatory demands. In the past, the tech giant suspended product sales in Russia and limited its Apple Pay service following the Ukraine invasion. Now, Apple has removed popular VPN apps such as Red Shield VPN, Le VPN, Proton VPN, and NordVPN from its platform at the request of Roskomnadzor.