Apple Inc. confirmed Tuesday that it has “paused” product sales in Russia, calling it just one of the actions it is taking as companies face calls to sanction Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
The company also said it has limited Apple Pay and other services; stopped all exports into its sales channel in Russia; and is no longer making RT News and Sputnik News available in its App Store outside Russia. In addition, Apple
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has disabled both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a precautionary measure for Ukrainian citizens, a company spokesman said in an email.
“We are deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all of the people who are suffering as a result of the violence,” he said, adding that the company is continuing “to evaluate the situation and are in communication with relevant governments on the actions we are taking.”
The company’s confirmation of the moves arrives after Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov urged Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook and other tech companies — including Alphabet Inc.’s
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Google, Meta Platforms Inc.’s
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Facebook, Netflix Inc.
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and Twitter Inc.
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— to stop doing business with Russia.
