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Payment System Outage Disrupts Moscow Transport and Shops

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A widespread payment system disruption caused significant disruption across Moscow on Friday, affecting public transport, retail stores and services.

Shoppers and commuters reported failures in card and QR code payments, with many businesses temporarily switching to cash-only transactions. The issue also impacted the Moscow metro, where turnstiles were opened to allow passengers to travel without payment during the outage.

The disruption was linked to problems involving Sberbank, Russia’s largest financial institution, though the exact cause has not been disclosed. The bank later confirmed that services had been restored but did not provide further details.

Other services were also affected, including a regional zoo in Belgorod, which asked visitors to pay in cash due to the outage. Petrol stations and shops across the region experienced similar issues for about an hour.

Authorities, including Central Bank of Russia, have not yet commented on the root cause of the disruption.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of digital payment infrastructure in large urban centers, particularly when widely used systems experience sudden failures.

iPhone 17 hits Moscow stores as Russian pre-orders surge despite economic strain

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Russian resellers unveiled the iPhone 17 on Saturday, with major retailer Restore: reporting a 66% jump in pre-orders compared to last year, highlighting strong demand for Apple devices despite Russia’s economic downturn.

Russia is grappling with 20-year-high interest rates and a budget deficit exceeding 4 trillion roubles, yet enthusiasm for Apple’s latest smartphones remains resilient. Apple itself halted direct sales and suspended Apple Pay in 2022 due to Western sanctions, but resellers continue to import devices through parallel channels, pushing prices far above U.S. and European levels.

At Afimall City in Moscow’s business district, Restore: displayed the new models for browsing, with deliveries promised in coming days. The base 256GB iPhone 17 is priced at 119,990 roubles ($1,437)—about 57% higher than in the U.S.

“There is a huge fan base that will never exchange iPhone for anything else,” said Lyudmila Semushina, PR director of Restore:. Customer interest is especially high for the redesigned iPhone Air and the upgraded Pro models with improved cameras.

Tech blogger Sergei Yepikhin noted that while Android remains more practical in Russia, the new iPhones’ features are luring users to switch. Restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram calls have also boosted demand for FaceTime, further embedding iPhones into Russian digital life.

To bypass Apple Pay’s absence, Russian banks such as Sber and T-Bank recently rolled out local contactless payment services. Despite higher logistics costs from imports, Restore: said its supply chain remains “quite stable,” though short-term shortages of new iPhones are expected.

Apple was Russia’s top smartphone brand by revenue in 2024, while Xiaomi led in unit sales, underscoring the iPhone’s enduring premium appeal even in a strained economy.

EU Proposes Ban on Video Game Sales to Russia in New Sanctions Package

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Key Developments:

  • The European Commission has proposed new restrictions on video game sales to Russia as part of its 16th sanctions package against Moscow.
  • The ban would affect video game consoles and accessories, including:
    • Microsoft Xbox
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Sony PlayStation
    • Game controllers, flight simulator controllers, joysticks, and other input devices

Context & Implications:

  • The move is part of ongoing EU efforts to tighten economic pressure on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
  • The proposal aims to curtail access to Western gaming technology and entertainment systems in Russia.
  • If approved, major gaming companies could be forced to halt sales of consoles and accessories to the Russian market.

The proposal is still under review by EU member states, with further discussions expected before formal adoption.