Following the invasion of Ukraine, Wargaming, the producer of the online military games World of Tanks, World of Warships, and World of Warplanes, has stated that it would cease operations in Russia and Belarus and close its facilities in both countries.

Numerous gaming firms have pulled out of the Russian and Belarusian markets in recent weeks, but this one is different. Wargaming, which is presently located in Cyprus, was founded in Belarus and has maintained a large studio in the Belarusian capital Minsk till now.

Wargaming announced on LinkedIn that it had begun shutting down its Minsk facility. It also stated that, as of March 31, it has handed the business of managing its games in Russia and Belarus to Lesta Studio, a Russian developer bought by Wargaming in 2011 but now "no longer linked with Wargaming." Under Lesta's ownership, the games will continue to be offered in Russia and Belarus.

"The company will not profit from this process today or going forward. Much to the contrary we expect to suffer substantial losses as a direct result of this decision," the statement said.

 

 

Wargaming also has a studio in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, where approximately 500 people work. Sergey Burkatovskiy, Wargaming's creative director, was fired in February after making a remark on Facebook supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Burkatovskiy's viewpoint "categorically does not reflect the company's perspective," according to Wargaming.

Wargaming also made a  $1million donation to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

"All available company resources are helping and supporting our 550+ colleagues [in Ukraine]: providing them with alternate housing, early salary payments, additional funds to aid travel and relocation. We are helping our employees' families to travel to neighbouring countries and organizing accommodation for them."