Despite Apple's departure from Russia two years ago due to the conflict in Ukraine, Vision Pros are still available in Moscow.

• The Vision Pro goggles, which were halted by Apple from being exported to Russia two years ago, are now available for sale through a former official reseller.
• The availability of goggles in Moscow before they are sold in London or Paris highlights the complexity of untangling Russia's economic connections globally.
• In Moscow, the cheapest model costs $6,307, which is over 57% more than in the U.S.

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, announced that it would halt exports of its products into the country. The company stated, "We are deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all of the people who are suffering as a result of the violence."

In Moscow, stores are brimming with Apple products and customers are scheduling appointments to witness the unveiling of the new Apple Vision Pro, which is located near the Kremlin.

The Vision Pro, a new product released on Feb. 2, is only officially available for sale in the United States and not in Russia, where it was made available just days after its release.

An Apple spokesperson informed CNBC that Apple Vision Pro is only sold at Apple Retail stores in the US.

According to a CNBC survey of Russian websites and tech blogs, as well as channel checks at stores in Moscow, Apple's statement does not align with the reality on the ground.

The difficulty of unraveling the global economy is evident in the fact that customers in Moscow can buy the Vision Pro before people in London can officially do so, despite American companies' horror over Russian atrocities in Ukraine.

In Moscow, Apple products are available in stores, but prices may be higher due to the invasion. Apple's Russian tech support website is still active, but the official Apple Store website is offline, displaying a message in Russian saying, "The Apple Store is currently closed."

At "re:Store," a former official Apple reseller, Apple products are sold at shops in Moscow. The website showcases a photo of a user wearing an Apple Vision Pro and features the iconic bitten Apple logo with text stating, "Vision Pro: The era of spatial computers has arrived. Apple Vision Pro is now available for purchase."

In Moscow, the Vision Pro goggles are available at a re:Store location for a by-appointment demonstration, and the cheapest model costs approximately $6,307, which is more than 57% higher than its retail price in the U.S.

The day after CEO Tim Cook unveiled the Apple Vision Pro at the company's flagship store in New York, a prominent Russian tech blogger known as "Romancev768" posted a video to his over 1 million followers, showcasing how he used his own Apple headset.

He posted a video with his opinions on the device while strolling through the affluent Moscow district of Patriarshiye a few days later.

In a restaurant, he reveals that despite having the volume turned up, those seated nearby can't hear him. He demonstrates this by testing the device at the re:Store shop in Moscow's mall, GUM, located next to Red Square and opposite the Kremlin.

The blogger's real-world name is Sergey Romantsev. In an email exchange with CNBC, he revealed how he obtained the Vision Pro in Moscow so quickly: "It's quite simple," he wrote. "My team placed a preorder for the device in New York. The person received it on the day of the start of sales and immediately flew to Moscow. Through New York, Istanbul, Moscow, we brought Vision very quickly."

Though Apple devices are expensive, they are available in Russia. However, due to the lack of official sales, Russian companies import the equipment from other countries, leading to a significant increase in prices. For instance, the Vision Pro in Moscow costs $5,000 instead of the usual $3,500.

At least some consumers are willing to pay that price: "Apple is very popular in Russia, and we keep an eye on all new products," Romantsev wrote. "We are trying to get them, but it's difficult."

He stated that he has no trouble using his Vision Pro in Russia, but it's a different story with the competing American product, the Meta Quest 3.

In 2022, a Russian court banned Facebook and Instagram from the country after Meta loosened its policies on hate speech toward Russian soldiers in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian government has labeled Meta as an extremist organization, and its servers are now blocked in the country. To use Quest 3, you need to install a VPN on your home WiFi. However, there are many restrictions associated with constant work via VPN, which can be challenging. A Meta spokesperson declined to comment on this story.

The Russian government has taken measures to ensure that many Western products continue to enter the country, including issuing a document in 2022 that allowed Apple products to be imported to Russia despite official bans or suspensions by the manufacturer.

In Russia, the phenomenon of "parallel import" is prevalent, although the specific supply chain supplying this demand is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve former Soviet republics or Middle Eastern import-export businesses.

In 2022, Apple announced a plan to reduce its business in Russia. The company stopped selling products and exports in its sales channel in the country. Additionally, Apple removed Russian state-controlled media outlets RT News and Sputnik News from the App Store outside of Russia, and limited the use of Apple Pay and other services.

In 2022, some internet activists urged American tech companies to continue providing Russian customers with the necessary tools to access information on the open internet, particularly messaging apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Threema.

Apple faced challenges in maintaining open access while complying with the Russian government's demands before it left the country in 2022. According to media reports, the company removed an app linked to opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who passed away in a Russian prison this week, and agreed to promote state-run apps in the country. Apple declined to comment on the actions.

The White House official stated that the continued sales of Apple's consumer-focused products in Russia are not likely to raise eyebrows in Washington, as their focus is on disrupting Russia's procurement of items for the military industrial base.

The official stated that while we generally do not have a complete trade embargo, there are exceptions for communications-related devices, as long as they are not intended for sanctioned Russian end-users.

— CNBC’s Steve Kovach contributed to this report.