[leshenka]

That's true, it opens a splash screen. But if I remember correctly even if you dismiss it it opens a corresponding AppStore section. Which was kinda annoying but that's it.

In more recent developments of this story, looks like Russian authorities saw a success of EU's push for alternative stores and now want Apple to allow that in Russia too [1,2]. Sadly, the motivation is twofold: a. let authorities publish their spyware (Max messenger) and b. let sanctioned companies publish their apps (sberbank). I haven't heard a single word about caring for user freedom.

P.S. just for laughs: Since it's currently (almost)impossible to install alternative appstores, stores and online marketplaces selling iphones now label them as "defective" [3]: below title "Имеется недостаток товара: невозможно установить и использовать RuStore" = "Defect: impossible to install and use RuStore"

[1] (ru) https://www.ixbt.com/news/2025/07/07/apple-rustore-iphone-ip...

[2] (en) https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/06/27/an-app-store-ultimat...

[3] https://re-store.ru/catalog/10117MAX512ORGN/

[raw_anon_1111]

The same podcast episode - the latest one - said that Apple isn’t selling in Russia right now so the point is moot.