Russian i Phone users lose Apple ID payments as Kremlin escalates VPN crackdown | Tech Radar

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Russian i Phone users lose Apple ID payments as Kremlin escalates VPN crackdown

With the traditional payment routes blocked, users may be forced to use cryptocurrency and cash

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Russia's mobile operators ordered to disable Apple ID payments

The move is reportedly intended to prevent VPN payments

Russia’s Minister of Digital Development, Maksut Shadayev, has ordered mobile operators to disable Apple ID payments in the country.

Local news outlet RBC reports that Shadayev issued the directive to the "Big Four" Russian operators — Mega Fon, T2 Mobile, MTS, and Vimpel Com — during a meeting on March 28.

From April 1, 2026, i Phone users across Russia will lose the ability to pay via their Apple ID.

Apple removes custom VPN clients from Russian App Store amid Telegram crackdown

Russia moves to 'reduce VPN usage' with new blocking, fines and fees

Russia’s crackdown on VPNs reaches new heights as internet restrictions intensify

One source told RBC the move is an attempt to make accessing a VPN even more difficult. By disabling these payments, authorities hope to throttle the ability of residents to pay for premium VPN subscriptions.

However, a separate source told Russia's 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 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 since signaled that the government intends to further "reduce VPN usage" through a combination of technical blocks, aggressive fines, and new usage fees.

Russia's Apple ID payments ban — what's at stake for VPN users?

(Image credit: Photo Illustration by Omar Marques/SOPA Images/Light Rocket via Getty Images)

The Apple ID payment system allows i OS users to manage purchases for apps, digital services like i Cloud+ and Apple Music, and third-party subscriptions.

The feature became a vital lifeline 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 became the final reliable way to pay for Western digital services.

While users can theoretically purchase VPNs through other means, the absence of Visa and Mastercard makes direct website purchases nearly impossible for the average Russian user.

Russia’s battle against VPNs is entering a new phase: Here's what to expect in 2026

Windscribe promises users in Iran and Russia "solutions" to ongoing VPN crackdown — here's everything we know

Russia is using DNS and DPI to block You Tube, Telegram and Whats App while pushing state-controlled MAX as alternative

If you are based in or traveling to Russia soon, I suggest downloading a secure free VPN app like Proton VPN Free, Privado VPN 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, Privado VPN 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 reminding that some of the top VPN brands also accept cryptocurrency payments, including Nord VPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN.

Windscribe and Nym VPN — which have recently improved their censorship-resistant tech to make sure to work in challenging environments like Russia — accept crypto payments, too. Mullvad VPN even lets you pay in cash.

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Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life – wherever cybersecurity, markets, and politics tangle up. She believes an open, uncensored, and private internet is a basic human need and wants to use her knowledge of VPNs to help readers take back control. She writes news, interviews, and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, tech policies, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for Tech Radar and Tech Radar Pro. Got a story, tip-off, or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com

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• Russian i Phone users lose Apple ID payments as Kremlin escalates VPN crackdown