russia-ukraine
Bulletins

A Ukraine official asked Apple to block Russia from the App Store

Mykhailo Fedorov asked Tim Cook to cut Russia off from all Apple products and services on Friday.

Apple logo

Mykhailo Fedorov, vice prime minister of Ukraine and head of the ministry, asked Cook in a letter to halt supplying Apple services and products to Russia.

Image: Apple

Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation has asked Tim Cook to cut Russia off from Apple services amid its invasion of the country.

Mykhailo Fedorov, vice prime minister of Ukraine and head of the ministry, asked Cook in a letter to halt supplying Apple services and products to Russia and block the country from accessing the App Store. In the letter, posted to Twitter on Friday, Fedorov said support from Big Tech "is perhaps the best answer to the tanks, multiple rocket launchers … and missiles."

"We are sure that such actions will motivate youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression," Fedorov said in the letter.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment from Protocol. Cook tweeted Thursday that Apple is "doing all we can for our teams there and will be supporting local humanitarian efforts."

Nat Rubio-Licht

Nat Rubio-Licht is a Los Angeles-based news writer at Protocol. They graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in newspaper and online journalism in May 2020. Prior to joining the team, they worked at the Los Angeles Business Journal as a technology and aerospace reporter.

ukrainerussiaappletim cookministry of digital transformationmykhailo fedorovrussia-ukraineapp store
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