Russia will require all smartphones, tablets and computers sold in the country from 1 September to come pre-installed with Max, a state-backed messenger app developed by the VK Group. The move is part of a broader effort to replace foreign digital services with domestic alternatives amid growing restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram. Launched in March, Max already claims more than 18 million registered accounts, up from 1 million in June. The app offers text messaging, voice and video calls, and is set to integrate with government services such as the Gosuslugi portal for payments, document signing and official identification.