Apple Pulls VPN Apps in Russia, Durov Says 'That's Not Cool' While DPI Gets the Last Laugh

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is absolutely fuming at Apple, and honestly? The vibes are immaculate. In a scathing public statement, he called out the tech giant after several VPN and proxy tools vanished from the Russian App Store — apps that helped users bypass Russia's DPI-based censorship. Because apparently, nothing says "we care about user privacy" quite like silently nuking tools that keep people online.

The removed apps included Streisand, V2Box, v2RayTun, and Happ Proxy Utility. Data from AppleCensorship confirms these are no longer available in Russia or China. Poof. Gone. Just like your gains in a bear market, but somehow even more devastating because at least your altcoin had potential.

"Apple just banned several VPN apps from the Russian App Store — targeting those that helped users bypass Russia's DPI-based censorship. That's not cool, Apple," Durov tweeted. Bold words from a guy who built an empire on encrypted messages, but hey, when you're right, you're right.

The timing is absolutely chefs kiss. These removals came just days after Telegram users in Russia reported widespread connectivity issues. It's almost like someone coordinated this, right? Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, confirmed it introduced consistent restrictions on Telegram and claimed the measures ensure compliance with national laws. Sure, Jan.

Durov pushed back harder than a Bitcoin maximalist at an altcoin conference. He said the prohibitions are designed to push users toward state-controlled platforms like the MAX messaging app, which the Kremlin supports. He called out concerns about MAX's surveillance features. Nothing says "secure messaging" quite like a government-endorsed app. That's like using a ledger that's also the taxman.

This isn't Apple's first rodeo. In 2024, Apple removed at least 60 VPN apps including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN. Russia also passed a law regulating the supply of means to bypass internet restrictions that year. At this point, Apple and Russia are basically vibing.

Meanwhile, Amnezia VPN founder Mazay Banzaev reported a surge in new users as Telegram disruptions intensified. Detection systems have gotten more precise, he said, but enforcement is shifting toward broader, more aggressive blocking. It's like whack-a-mole, but the moles have better lawyers and the hammer is state-sponsored.

Elsewhere, the global regulatory heat is on. Canada introduced Bill C-25 to ban crypto donations during political campaigns, and the UK also banned crypto donations following an independent review questioning transaction transparency and ownership. Nothing says "we understand crypto" quite like banning it entirely. At least they're consistent.