Russian app store website hit by DDoS attack on opening day

MOSCOW. May 16 (Interfax) - The website of Russia's application store, NashStore, launched on Monday as an alternative to Google Play, is having problems amid a major DDoS attack.

"Before NashStore was launched, we experienced a severe DDoS attack. There may be problems with accessing the website and downloading the store. Our specialists are doing everything they can to deal with the problem," the store said on Telegram.

Arseny Sheltsyn, General Director of ANO Digital Platforms, told Interfax they "have deterred over ten attacks, having no impact on user experience," over the past week.

"Yet [the situation] is much more difficult with the attack that started this morning," he said.

ANO Digital Platforms said earlier on Monday that the NashStore application store for Android could be downloaded from the nashstore.ru website.

Currently, NashStore contains over 1,000 applications, including Banki.ru, Alfa-Bank, RN-Cart (Rosneft fuel card), RuTube, the Wink online cinema service, PSB Business, Sber-Market, Sovcombank, and others. There is no system for purchasing goods online in NashStore so far.

Given the suspended work of Visa and Mastercard in Russia, it's impossible to make payments in Google Play and AppStore.