Russian Government Seizes World Of Tanks Assets

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The gaming industry has felt the impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Last year, the creators of STALKER 2, GSC Games, shared a documentary about how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 influenced their game’s development path. Presently, Russian authorities have shifted their focus to a new internal issue.

According to state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti, the general prosecutor of the Tagan district court in Moscow has ordered the confiscation of all shares belonging to game developer Lesta. The same source also discloses that business activities have been prohibited for Malik Khatazhaev (Lesta’s owner) and Viktor Kisly (known as the owner of Wargaming, famous for its World of Tanks game).

It seems that both Khatazhaev and Kisly are being charged with engaging in “activities deemed extremist,” as alleged by the prosecutor’s office. Evidence appears to stem from a fundraising effort dating back to 2023.

Wargaming.net organized a charity event titled “Wargaming United for Ukraine” in all their active multiplayer games, with the aim of collecting funds to buy Type C ambulances for the Ukrainian emergency services.

Currently, Lesta Games manages and takes care of Wargaming’s games, specifically in Russia and Belarus. In recent years, the tank simulation game, World of Tanks, has consistently been the top-rated game in Russia.

Wargame Versus Russia

It’s not surprising that there’s been ongoing tension between Wargaming and the Russian government. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, backed by Belarus, the company showed its support for Ukraine by donating a million dollars to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

As a devoted admirer looking back, I’d say that Sergey Burkatovsky, the imaginative director at Wargaming, parted ways with the company following remarks expressing support for an incursion, which occurred just on the second day of a comprehensive conflict.

Even though Wargaming’s popularity soared in Russia and Belarus, the company made the decision to close its studios in Minsk, Moscow, and St. Petersburg back in 2022. Reports suggest that this move was prompted by a staggering $250 million loss the company faced as a result.

1) Option A: Wargaming maintains and services its Kyiv office where approximately 500 employees work, while it also has branches in more than a dozen nations worldwide. Notably, the main hub for World of Tanks production is located in Belgrade, Serbia.

2) Option B: Wargaming keeps running its Kyiv office, where around 500 staff members are based, and additionally operates offices in multiple countries numbering over a dozen. Significantly, the principal development team for World of Tanks resides in Belgrade, Serbia.

3) Option C: The Kyiv office of Wargaming remains open, employing around 500 individuals, as part of its global network of offices that span more than a dozen countries. It is worth noting that the core team behind World of Tanks development can be found in Belgrade, Serbia.

4) Option D: Wargaming continues to operate its office in Kyiv, housing over 500 employees, and boasts additional offices across over a dozen nations. Importantly, the main group responsible for World of Tanks development is situated in Belgrade, Serbia.

Choose the one that you feel best captures the essence of the original sentence while providing a fresh perspective, making it easy to read and understand: Option C – Wargaming continues to operate its Kyiv office, where around 500 staff members are based, and additionally operates offices in multiple countries numbering over a dozen. It is worth noting that the core team behind World of Tanks development can be found in Belgrade, Serbia.

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2025-04-29 00:39