A private VK Night party recently took place to celebrate the launch of the Max messenger during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. This event, as reported by the independent Russian investigative outlet Agentstvo, featured a vibrant atmosphere where “everything revolved around Max — advertising, jokes,” according to a source who provided video footage from the gathering.
Event Highlights
The soirée was hosted by the well-known journalist and socialite Ksenia Sobchak. Among the notable attendees were Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadaev and VK CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko, who is also the son of Sergei Kiriyenko, a prominent figure in President Putin’s domestic policy team. The entertainment for the evening included performances by popular pop singers Vanya Dmitriyenko and Lolita Milyavskaya, adding a lively touch to the celebration.
However, the festivities were overshadowed by recent developments concerning the Max messenger. On June 3, the application was removed from the App Store, with Apple later confirming to BBC Russia that the removal was in line with sanctions compliance rules. At the time of its removal, Max had achieved a notable position, ranking ninth among the most-downloaded apps in Russia.
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