Apple confirms removal of Russia’s VK apps globally.

Apple has responded to the removal of Russia’s largest social network from the App Store globally.

“These apps are being distributed by developers majority-owned or majority-controlled by one or more parties sanctioned by the UK government,” Apple said in a statement to The Verge. 

On Monday, the UK government enacted new sanctions on Russian oligarchs in response to sham referendums Russia recently held in parts of Ukraine. The sanctions affect 23 executives at Gazprombank, a Russian bank with ties to VK.