At a Glance:
- VK has stated that the beta version of the RuStore is under work and will be available for Android users.
- There has been a push from the Kremlin for rapid development of domestic alternatives and has limited access to popular social media platforms and Google’s News platform.
- VK confirmed that there are more than 100 applications available on the store at launch which included government services and more applications are being added every day.
Russia has launched a homemade app store through the Russian internet group VK, which is the latest Kremlin-endorsed drive to create a raft of domestic digital services as an answer to the Western exits.
VK —often dubbed the Facebook of Russia, has stated that the beta version of the RuStore is under work and will be available for Android users. This approach comes after Apple and Google limited the access for Russian users in response to the Ukraine war.
RuStore under rapid development
There has been a push from the Kremlin for rapid development of domestic alternatives and has limited access to popular social media platforms and Google’s News platform. VK is part-owned by Gazprom Media and has a host of online services from social media platforms for food delivery and is emerging as the leader in the race to replace Western services.
RuStore is developed with the support of Russia’s ministry of digital development communications and mass media and backed by Yandex’s technology with cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, and the country’s largest lender Sberbank.
Switching to domestic providers
VK confirmed that there are more than 100 applications available on the store at launch which included government services and more applications are being added every day.
Vladimir Kiriyenko, the CEO of VK said, “I am sure that RuStore will be in demand among both users and developers. It has everything it needs to become the largest Russian app store.”
