Apple has halted all payment processing in Russia, impacting residents’ capacity to make app purchases or renew subscriptions, including services like iCloud+ and Apple TV. This choice follows a directive from the Russian authorities and arises after Apple encountered penalties for unintentionally breaching sanctions against the nation.
As per a support document issued by Apple, effective April 1, 2026, payment processing will be terminated for purchases on the App Store or other Apple Media Services in Russia. Current subscriptions may be affected, but users with funds in their Apple Account balance can continue to make purchases and renew subscriptions until those funds are consumed. Users can also redeem existing App Store gift cards.
The prohibition includes all Apple subscriptions, such as Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts subscriptions, Apple One, App Store purchases, Apple TV purchases, iTunes Store purchases, iCloud+, and ringtone purchases. While iCloud+ users might be concerned about losing access to their data, Apple has confirmed that data will remain retrievable after subscriptions expire, although it remains unclear if users can continue to add data to their accounts.
The main reason for this change seems to be adherence to a new government order that prevents iPhone users from recharging their Apple ID balance through mobile accounts, a method that became popular after the prohibition on Russian cards for international services. Nonetheless, Apple’s overall move to disable all payment methods may be a precautionary action following its recent penalty for violating Russian sanctions.
The Russian government’s rationale for these restrictions likely focuses on obstructing access to VPN applications, which are utilized to circumvent internet censorship in the country.
