Topic
MAX
Separating Identity and Delivery Channels for Compliant Telegram Mini App Authentication
Policy & RegulationCompliant Telegram Mini App Authentication via Russian ID Providers in My Anti-Social Network Project
Policy & Regulation
MAX Messenger to Open Source Code and Launch Developer Program for Alternative Clients
Policy & RegulationVK and MAX Apps Removed from Google Play Store Amid EU Sanctions on Russian Company
VK and its national messenger MAX have been removed from the Google Play Store following the European Union's decision to add the parent company to its sanctions list. The company confirmed that the apps are no longer available for new downloads or updates through Google, but existing installations continue to function normally with full access to messaging, calls, events, and push notifications. Users can obtain updates and new installations through alternative Android stores including RuStore, Huawei AppGallery, Samsung Galaxy Store, and Xiaomi GetApps, or receive in-app update prompts when new versions become available. The removal comes shortly after similar apps such as Dzen and VK Video disappeared from the Apple App Store last month. Although the exact reasons were not disclosed in VK's statement, the sanctions were triggered specifically by the development of the MAX messenger as a national platform. This development highlights how regulatory actions are reshaping app distribution channels for Russian digital services, positioning RuStore as a primary rather than backup marketplace.
Kremlin Spokesperson Peskov Labels EU Sanctions Against MAX Messenger as Manifestation of Repressive Policy
Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary to the Russian president, has strongly condemned the European Union's decision to impose sanctions on the Russian messenger MAX, describing the move as absolutely absurd and a clear demonstration of the repressive character of European sanctions policy. The EU added the parent company VK and its subsidiary LLC Communication Platform, the developer and operator of MAX, to its sanctions list due to their connection with Russia's national messenger. This action follows the removal of the VK and MAX applications from the Apple App Store in June, although already installed versions continue to function without the ability to receive updates through the store. VK has stated that the sanctions have not impacted the messenger's operations and that MAX along with other services remain fully available to users in normal mode. The situation raises questions about whether further barriers will emerge around MAX beyond the current sanctions listings and App Store restrictions, with political rhetoric currently outweighing any significant technical consequences.
EU Adds Russian Tech Giant VK to Sanctions List Over Development of National Messenger MAX
The European Union has included VK in its sanctions regime, targeting the parent company of Russia’s largest social media platforms including VKontakte and Odnoklassniki. The move was triggered by VK’s ownership of the developer behind the national messenger application MAX, which Russian authorities have been promoting as a domestic digital platform. According to the Council of the EU, VK serves as the parent structure for LLC Communication Platform, the entity directly responsible for creating and operating MAX. The sanctions decision was formally published on 13 July in the Official Journal of the European Union, marking the first time Brussels has directly sanctioned a major Russian IT holding in connection with a consumer messaging service. While the exact operational and commercial consequences for VK, its subsidiaries, and international partners remain unspecified in the official notice, the action extends EU restrictive measures beyond traditional sectors such as banking, energy, and manufacturing into the Russian technology industry. VK’s press service stated that the sanctions do not affect the functioning of VK or MAX and that all applications and services remain available to users without disruption.