Overview
- VK reported Thursday that its apps VK, Max and Odnoklassniki have been taken down from Google Play while saying already installed copies continue to run.
- The app-store moves follow EU sanctions against VK and the Max legal entity, and Apple earlier removed Max from the App Store citing sanctions compliance.
- VK says its Android apps remain available in alternative stores such as RuStore, Samsung Galaxy Store and Xiaomi GetApps, but independent checks found the apps missing from Huawei AppGallery and other platforms.
- Max warned iPhone users that push notifications for calls and messages may stop working and advised people to open the app periodically; security experts and users say Max lacks end‑to‑end encryption, secret chats, disappearing messages and two‑factor authentication.
- Russia has pushed to move official communications onto Max, with authorities ordering state and municipal staff to adopt the service as part of a broader effort to replace foreign messengers after Max launched in beta in March 2025.