MAX is set to become the country's go-to communications app as authorities take steps to reduce reliance on foreign tech platforms

Russia's new messenger app MAX will have to be pre-installed on electronic devices sold in the country, according to a directive published on the government's website this week. The move is part of a push Moscow is making to strengthen its digital sovereignty by reducing reliance on foreign technology platforms.

MAX will become mandatory starting September 1, according to the directive signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday, and will replace VK Messenger as the default Russian communications app. It must be included in the list of pre-installed programs on all electronic devices. The same order states that RuStore, Russia's domestic app marketplace, will also have to be pre-installed on devices running Apple's iOS and Huawei's HyperOS, extending its previous mandate from Android and Huawei's HarmonyOS.

The MAX platform was first presented in March 2025 and is being developed by VK with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development and Communications. It is designed as a multifunctional service similar to China's WeChat. In addition to messaging features such as calls, video, and file sharing of up to 4GB, it is expected to be linked with Russia's government services portal and the Sferum education platform. Officials have said it will also allow communication with government agencies and money transfers.

The decision comes after repeated disputes between Moscow and foreign messaging platforms. Both WhatsApp and Telegram have been accused of refusing to comply with local data laws while cooperating with foreign agencies. Earlier this month, media watchdog Roskomnadzor partially blocked voice calls on the pair, citing their use in scams, extortion, and recruitment attempts for sabotage and terrorist activities.

The mandatory installation of MAX and RuStore is part of a wider trend of replacing foreign-developed software with domestic solutions. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, when companies such as Microsoft withdrew from Russia, officials have argued that dependence on unreliable foreign suppliers is unsafe. Alongside MAX and RuStore, Russia has promoted its Linux-based Astra and RED OS systems to replace Windows, and developed the Mir payment card system as an alternative to Visa and Mastercard.