text:  VPN apps are used by many Russians to get around the country's internet sensors. It's been described as Russia's digital iron curtain. Twitter, now X, Meta's Facebook and Instagram and other Western social media apps are blocked inside of Russia, as are a number of independent news organizations which have reported on the country's war in Ukraine. Apple removing the VPN apps was first reported by tech news site TechCrunch. Other companies like Netflix and Google have pulled back services in Russia in response to Western sanctions. Bobby Allen, NPR News.