This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
On November 27, 2019, Apple announced that it would be complying with a demand from Moscow to display Crimea as Russian territory on its maps and weather apps in Russia.
According to Apple, the decision was made in response to current Russian legislation, which requires that the company update its maps for Russian users.
However, when viewed from outside Russia, Crimea remains undefined on Apple's maps, sparking criticism from Ukraine and its supporters.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Vadym Prystaiko, took to Twitter to express his disappointment with Apple's decision, saying, '@Apple, please, please, stick to high-tech and entertainment. Global politics is not your strong side.'
Apple's move comes as part of a broader effort by Moscow to pressure foreign companies into recognizing Crimea as an integral part of its territory.
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, a move that was widely condemned by the global community.
Since then, the peninsula has been the site of ongoing conflict, with more than 13,000 lives lost in the separatist uprising that followed.
