(Reuters) – Russia’s largest cell operator MTS mentioned on Tuesday it has began promoting discounted and used smartphones, providing Russian customers cheaper options as inflation bites and Western manufacturers droop shipments.

Apple (NASDAQ:) paused all product gross sales in Russia in early March, one in all many Western corporations to distance itself from Moscow because it despatched tens of 1000’s of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it known as a particular navy operation.

Gross sales of Chinese language smartphone manufacturers in Russia doubled within the first two weeks of March, Kommersant newspaper reported on the time.

Now, MTS is providing smartphones from Chinese language manufacturers Huawei, Honor and Xiaomi (OTC:), in addition to South Korean producer Samsung (KS:), for as much as 50% lower than new units at its Moscow shops and on-line. MTS mentioned the manufacturers supplied and areas the place they’re bought could be expanded.

“It is a good alternative for our firm to supply customers a further solution to save on purchases of high quality devices,” mentioned Pavel Sukhovarov, head of MTS’ retail community improvement, who mentioned customers might now purchase used devices at discount costs.

Inflation is hovering above 17%, consuming into Russians’ buying energy, though the central financial institution has mentioned the firming rouble and a decline in lately elevated shopper demand are serving to to place the brakes on.

Discounted units that MTS is promoting embrace fashions that had been returned inside two weeks or have a packaging defect, and can include a 90-day guarantee.

The telecoms firm final week reported a 76.2% year-on-year drop in first-quarter web revenue to three.9 billion roubles ($67.83 million) which it blamed partially on increased rates of interest.

($1 = 57.5000 roubles)