‘I appeal to you… stop supplying Apple services and products to the Russian Federation’
As fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, the country’s Vice President Mykhailo Fedorov has released an open letter urging Apple to block the country’s access to the app store.
In a message addressed to the tech giant’s current CEO Tim Cook and posted onto Twitter late on Friday evening, Fedorov compels the company to stop suppling services and products to Russian leaders in retaliation to the country’s recent invasion.
I’ve contacted @tim_cook, Apple's CEO, to block the Apple Store for citizens of the Russian Federation, and to support the package of US government sanctions! If you agree to have the president-killer, then you will have to be satisfied with the only available site Russia 24. pic.twitter.com/b5dm78g2vS
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 25, 2022
As reported by The Verge, Fedorov’s letter begins by saying: “The Russian federation has carried out a deceptive and absolutely outrageous attack on my country! Just imagine, in 2022, cruise missiles attack residential neighbourhoods, kindergartens and hospitals in the heart of Europe.
“The armed forces and citizens are defending Ukraine until the end! The whole world is repelling the aggressor through imposition and sanctions – the enemy must suffer significant losses. But we need your support – modern technology is perhaps the best answer to tanks, multiple rocket launchers (hrad) and missiles.”
Fedorov’s open statement continues to urge Cook to “do everything possible to protect Ukraine, Europe and finally the entire democratic world from bloody authoritarian aggression” – primarily by halting the supply of “Apple services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to the App Store!”
The post concludes by assuring the current Apple boss that in removing Russia’s access to apps and digital technology, “such actions will motivate youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression.”
The news came shortly before Russian forces launched a sustained and destructive attack on Kyiv earlier today.
Meanwhile, a number of local Ukrainian volunteers have been given machine guns in order to help protect their country – with an 80-year-old man recently spotted trying to enlist in the country’s army.
As of writing, Apple CEO Cook is yet to respond to Fedorov’s letter.
Related links:
- Mum, 23, gives birth to baby in Kyiv underground station as Russia bombs city
- Ukrainian president turns down evacuation request, says ‘send ammunition’
- 80-year-old Ukrainian man tries to enlist in army ‘for his grandkids’
