Apple has removed VK's iOS apps from its global App Store. VK is the technology company that runs Russia's equivalent of Facebook, VKontakte. The Verge quotes VK as saying that despite Apple 'blocking' its apps, it will 'continue to create and maintain iOS applications.'

VK's apps have been withdrawn, and its developer accounts have been closed, according to Apple spokesperson Adam Dema, who responded to a question from the website. In a statement, Dema was cited as claiming that 'these programmes are being distributed by developers majority-owned or majority-controlled by one or more parties sanctioned by the UK government.'

'Apple terminated the developer accounts linked to these apps in order to comply with these sanctions, and the apps are no longer available for download from any App Store, anywhere in the world. The apps can still be used by anyone who have already downloaded them, he noted.

In response to recent phoney referendums held by Moscow in sections of occupied Ukraine, the UK government this week imposed further sanctions on Russian oligarchs. The sanctions apply to 23 officials at the Russian bank, Gazprombank, which has connections to VK.

After Yandex, which is the nation's version ofGoogle, VK is the second-largest internet corporation in Russia.Pavel Durov founded the social media company in 2006 but was ultimately fired for his 'refusal to cooperate with the authorities.' The well-known messaging service Telegram is now run by him.