Apple announced on the 1st (local time) that it has stopped selling iPhones and other products in Russia, expressing concern over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Apple released a statement that day, saying, “Apple will be with people suffering from violence,” Bloomberg reported.
Apple has already suspended exports to Russia last week and has removed Russian state-run media Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik News applications from its app stores outside of Russia.
Apple also restricted Apple Pay, a payment service in Russia, and temporarily suspended the function of informing local traffic and real-time incidents on Apple maps as part of Ukrainian residents’ safety measures.
We are deeply concerned about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Apple said. “We will support humanitarian efforts and provide help to the refugee crisis.”
Earlier, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mikhailo Fedorov appealed that if Apple stops selling in Russia, it could raise public opinion on the reversal of young Russian people.
While the U.S.-centered West is raising the level of economic sanctions against Russia, individual companies are also participating in a series of “reversal ranks.”
Nike, one of the U.S. symbolic brands, also declared a suspension of sales in Russia on the same day, saying, “We cannot guarantee delivery of products to customers.”
In addition, HP, a U.S. company that accounts for 18% of the Russian PC market, has suspended exports to Russia since this week due to sanctions against Russia.
