Yes, iCloud services are generally available and functional for users in Russia, allowing for storage, syncing, and backups. However, users may face specific challenges primarily related to payment methods and certain feature limitations.
Apple announced that they pulled out of Russia in March 2022, but Russians can still buy the new iPhone 14. Apple decided to close the headquarters in Russia. The company continues to provide access to its services (Apple Music & TV +), accepting payment via SIM card.
Apple does not directly operate any physical retail stores in Russia and distributes its products through local retailers. Apple also operates a Russian-language online store, though it has been known to suspend sales during past crises of Russian currency.
AAPL officially stopped selling in Russia after the 2022 Ukraine invasion, the tech giant's iPhone 17 models are now available in Moscow stores. These new smartphones have reached Russian buyers through the government's parallel imports initiative. Check out the current price of AAPL stock here.
The Russian domestic payment market is now dominated by Mir, the national payment card system, especially following the departure of Visa and Mastercard. Payment systems from the country's largest banks, such as SberPay and Tinkoff Pay, are also widely used for online and offline payments.
Apple Pay has launched in Russia with partners Sberbank and MasterCard. Russia is the tenth country where Apple Pay has been made available, following the US, UK, Canada, France, China and others.
Despite this, there are still alternatives for foreigners to pay by card in Russia. There are three options for paying in Russia by foreigners: carrying cash, buying a Chinese UnionPay card before going on a trip, or buying a bank card from a Russian bank when you arrive in Moscow, St.
Your cellphone must first be compatible with the local networks at your destination. You can check whether networks are compatible with your device and which cellular networks operate in Russia to have this information in mind before traveling and choosing which service you will use.
Over the past 4 weeks, the wholesale price of Russia Fresh Apple has typically been between $0.91 and $1.15 USD per kg, or $0.41 to $0.52 USD per pound (lb). These prices are based on reports from regions such as Crimea, Russia.
🇹🇷🇭🇺 Turkey and Hungary are moving to prohibit iPhones following China, Russia, and Indonesia's confirmation of irreversible Israeli spyware within Apple devices manufactured by Foxconn. The scandal is intensifying, prompting widespread bans.
Closed office and suspend service. The Spotify streaming service completely stopped working in the Russian Federation on April 11, 2022 - this means that it will no longer be possible to use the services on the website and in the application.
Leading services include SberPay, Mir Pay, and SBPay, which account for over 30% of all transactions in 2025. The Fast Payment System (FPS, or SBP) enables customers to pay via QR code directly from banking apps, with transaction fees for merchants 2–3 times lower than for card payments.
Apple quietly deletes nearly a hundred VPNs that allowed Russians to get around censorship. The U.S. multinational Apple has removed almost a hundred VPN applications in Russia, dozens more than the Kremlin's censorship body officially reported.
Prior to this, Facebook, Instagram, Signal, Viber, Google Meet and several more services were also blocked. Restrictions have also been introduced on the use of Telegram. At the same time, Russian authorities have been rapidly developing their national home-grown messaging app, Max.
Despite Apple halting product sales and services like Apple Pay in Russia in 2022, the iPhone 16 is still available through parallel imports from countries that have not enforced sanctions, such as Turkey, Kazakhstan, and China. The Kremlin has endorsed this grey market system to keep foreign goods accessible.
Data presented by Burga indicates that Samsung is the most popular smartphone brand in Russia, with a market share of 34% as of Q3 2021. China-based Xiaomi ranks second with a share of 26%. Apple comes a distant third with a share of 15% more than half compared to Samsung.
While official Apple stores are gone, numerous physical retail stores across major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg now stock iPhones. These stores might be authorized resellers or operate through the parallel import channels.
VPNs are not formally illegal, but everything around them is being criminalized. Since March 1, 2024, it has been illegal to share information about circumvention tools — including guides, reviews, or even lists of working services — and websites that do so can be blocked and fined.
Russia is gradually introducing restrictive measures against WhatsApp, the country's communications regulator Roskomnadzor said on Monday. Citing a statement by Roskomnadzor's press service, the RBK news outlet reported that WhatsApp “continues to violate Russian law.”
The iPhones' popularity in Russia has endured Apple halting sales in 2022 and suspending services like Apple Pay in the wake of Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. In Russia, the phones also command higher prices than in Western markets.
What Can You Buy in St. Petersburg for 100 Rubles in 2022?
Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards do not currently work in Russia. While most popular online booking services are not accessible. However, there are Russian alternatives. So, you won't be left out on the street!
In Russia, salaries can vary greatly, with the lowest average being just 26,200 rubles and the highest reaching 463,000 rubles. This wide range reflects the country's many different jobs and the difference in pay between regions. Even hourly wages show this variation, averaging around 600 rubles (roughly $7.15).