Apple on Wednesday confirmed that it eliminated well-liked Russian social community VKontakte from its App Store globally because of sanctions imposed by Britain.

The British authorities on Monday sanctioned 92 Russian people and entities after President Vladimir Putin’s regime held referendums in Moscow-controlled areas of Ukraine – denounced by Kyiv and its allies as a “sham” – and stepped up threats towards the West.

“Sham referendums held at the barrel of a gun cannot be free or fair and we will never recognize their results,” British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly mentioned in an announcement.

The sanctions goal “those behind these sham votes, as well as the individuals that continue to prop up the Russian regime’s war of aggression,” he mentioned.

San Petersburg-based tech agency VK mentioned in a blog post that a few of its purposes had been not obtainable from the App Store, which serves because the lone gateway for content material onto Apple cellular units.

VK apps are used for messaging, digital funds, and grocery buying in addition to social networking.

The VK apps faraway from the App Store had been being distributed by builders managed or majority-owned by events sanctioned by the UK authorities, and Apple is complying with the legislation, in accordance with the Silicon Valley tech big.

Apple mentioned that it terminated developer accounts related to the apps, which weren’t obtainable from the App Store no matter customers’ areas.

People who’ve already put in the apps on units can nonetheless use them, however updates will not be offered by the App Store, in accordance with Apple and VK.

“Their core functionality will be familiar and stable,” VKontakte-parent VK mentioned of the apps.

“There may be difficulties with the work of notifications and payments.”