Reports from reliable outlets indicate that a directive has been issued within the administration’s domestic political bloc to retire iPhone devices from official use by April 1 of this year due to security concerns. The guidance reportedly emerged from a March seminar conducted in the Moscow region, with several unnamed sources cited by Kommersant. The instruction appears to target personnel connected to the political apparatus who are active in domestic policy and related initiatives.
According to the sources cited, March actions would require employees affiliated with the Administrative President’s office to either dispose of their iPhones or pass them on to family members. Early discussions at the seminar showed some skepticism about the necessity of such a policy, but the matter was promptly settled by Sergey Kiriyenko, the first deputy head of the Presidential Administration. He reportedly set a clear deadline for transitioning away from Apple devices and the withdrawal of iPhones from official use by April 1. The rapid decision and firm deadline reflect a prioritization of device security and a consolidation of messaging around safer communications within the core political ecosystem. (Kommersant, citing multiple sources)
The justification offered for the move centers on concerns that iPhones are more vulnerable to hacking and espionage attempts by Western actors compared with other smartphone options. Officials within the administration were advised to adopt Android devices, or devices from Chinese manufacturers, or to switch to a Russian-made Aurora-based ecosystem. The rationale emphasizes reducing potential exposure of sensitive discussions or strategic information to external monitoring channels and aligns with broader expectations for security-conscious asset management in sensitive government circles.
There is also talk that the Kremlin may replace iPhone hardware with a new class of secure smartphones for officials, according to the same reporting. Close observers note that the policy could extend beyond the central government to include senior figures in regional administrations who are involved in domestic policy and political activity. This potential expansion would reflect a broader trend of tightening device controls across various levels of government, driven by risk assessments that weigh foreign interception risks and supply-chain integrity. (Kommersant, with corroboration from insiders)
As Kommersant explains, the conditional domestic political bloc associated with the Presidential Administration encompasses several departments, including those focused on domestic policy, public projects, and the organization of activities for the State Council, alongside units responsible for information technology and communications infrastructure. The next presidential election cycle, though years away, already informs the operational focus of these departments, with leadership seeking to streamline tools and platforms used in campaign and policy work. The evolving landscape suggests a broader shift toward standardized devices and operating environments that can be centrally managed and monitored for security compliance.
Recent developments place the discussion in a broader context. On March 13, reports indicated that Russia initiated a phase of mass production of personal pocket computing devices under the domestic Aurora operating system, produced at the Aquarius facilities. This move signals an emphasis on an indigenous software and hardware cycle designed to reduce reliance on Western ecosystems while maintaining functional capabilities for communications and administrative tasks. The timeline of introduction and deployment may be aligned with the ongoing transition away from foreign-brand devices within government circles, especially where sensitive information is involved. (Kommersant, citing official sources)