Russian citizens told "switch to Android" after Apple blocks key Russian apps

- Apple has blocked several widely-used Russian apps (including banking and state services apps) from its App Store, complying with international sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities are now advising citizens to switch to Android devices to regain access to these apps via sideloading or unofficial app stores. - The blocked apps include Sberbank (Russia's largest bank) and Gosuslugi (a government services portal used for passports, taxes, healthcare, and more). Without them, iPhone users in Russia lose access to essential everyday financial and bureaucratic functions. - Android allows installation of apps from outside Google Play (sideloading), while Apple's iOS is more locked down. This distinction makes Android the pragmatic choice for Russian users who need these apps. - This is the latest escalation in a broader tech war since 2022: Western companies (Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta) have pulled services, restricted payments, and limited device sales in Russia, while Russia has pushed its own software ecosystems and demanded that foreign tech firms comply with local data laws.