It will be interesting to see what the Russians do to Apple in response. Google / Youtube already owes $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 [1] in Russian fines :).

Banning local apps from the App Store is a good way to bring regulatory scrutiny and make countries take their digital sovereignty seriously. Russia has already re-designed its internet Chinese style to ensure it can function "independently" (i.e. can be cut-off from international networks and work locally). They've already purchased a mobile OS that they customise (SailfishOS forked as AuroraOS [2]) and have mandated it on all official government phones. They have also been trying to create a development ecosystem around it through the "Open Mobile Platform".

[1]: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxvnwkl5kgo [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_OS_(Russian_mobile_plat...