Russia’s MAX messaging app is no longer available on Google Play. The app had already been removed from Apple’s App Store, and now Google has also taken it down from its official Android marketplace. Alongside MAX, VK (VKontakte), Odnoklassniki, and several other apps from the VK ecosystem have also disappeared from Google Play.
The removals come just days after the European Union imposed new sanctions on VK Holding and the company behind the MAX messenger. According to multiple reports, Google’s decision is linked to these sanctions.
VK stated that existing users will continue to be able to use the apps normally, including receiving push notifications, messages, and calls. However, new users can no longer officially download these apps through Google Play.
This is not the first major platform to remove the applications. Apple removed MAX and VK-related apps from the App Store in June 2026, meaning that both of the world’s largest mobile app stores have now delisted the services.
The move comes as Russia continues to promote its domestic digital ecosystem. As a result, users are now being directed to install these applications through alternative app stores such as RuStore instead of Google Play.
