Apple Halts Product Sales In Russia Over Ukraine Invasion
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Apple have decided to pause all sales of its physical products in Russia amid the invasion of Ukraine, according to a statement.
The tech giant has also opted to limit Apple pay services and news apps, such as RT News and Sputnik News which 'are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia'.
Both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps have also been disabled in Ukraine 'as a safety and precautionary measure for Ukrainian citizens'.
Following an open letter sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook by the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, the company decided to take action.
I’ve contacted @tim_cook, Apple's CEO, to block the Apple Store for citizens of the Russian Federation, and to support the package of US government sanctions! If you agree to have the president-killer, then you will have to be satisfied with the only available site Russia 24. pic.twitter.com/b5dm78g2vS
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 25, 2022
Apple's full statement reads: "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.
"We are supporting humanitarian efforts, providing aid for the unfolding refugee crisis, and doing all we can to support our teams in the region.
"We have taken a number of actions in response to the invasion.
"We have paused all product sales in Russia. Last week, we stopped all exports into our sales channel in the country.
"Apple Pay and other services have been limited. RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia.
"And we have disabled both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a safety and precautionary measure for Ukrainian citizens.
"We will continue to evaluate the situation and are in communication with relevant governments on the actions we are taking.
"We join all those around the world who are calling for peace."
It remains unknown how much of Apple’s estimated 365 billion dollar (£274 billion) annual revenue comes from Russia.
Russian forces escalated their attacks on crowded urban areas in what Ukraine’s leader called a blatant campaign of terror.
“Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed after the bloodshed on the central square in Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, and the deadly bombing of a TV tower in the capital.
A 40-mile convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks and other vehicles advanced slowly on Kyiv, the capital city of nearly three million people.
The invading forces also pressed their assault on other towns and cities, including the strategic ports of Odesa and Mariupol in the south.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
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