AppWizard
July 13, 2026
The European Union has imposed sanctions on Russian tech giant VK and its subsidiary, Communication Platform LLC, due to their involvement in the development of the Kremlin-backed messaging app, Max. The development of Max was overseen by the Federal Security Service (FSB), and it has been criticized for its surveillance capabilities. These sanctions are part of a broader strategy by the EU and the UK to target entities linked to Russian cyberattacks. The EU and UK also announced additional sanctions against individuals and entities involved in Russian cyber operations, including targeting leaders of Russia's GRU military intelligence and individuals linked to the FSB’s Center 16. Apple removed VK platforms and the Max app from its App Store last month, citing compliance with sanctions. The EU plans to introduce its 21st package of sanctions against Russia soon.
