The Russian government has reportedly seized former Wargaming studio, Lesta Studios.
President Putin’s government seemingly “claimed” the entire Moscow-based company on April 17, 2025, on the grounds that former owner, Wargaming, supported Ukraine after Russia invaded the sovereign country in 2022, starting the “deadliest war on European soil in more than 70 years.”
Court papers obtained by RIA said there was a “statement of claim by the Deputy Prosecutor General of Russia to prohibit the activities of the association consisting of [Wargaming owner] V.V. Kisly and [Lesta founder] M.A. Khatazhaev and to transfer shares in the authorized capital of the defendants to the state.”
In a statement to VGC, Wargaming said: “Wargaming made a strategic exit from the Russian and Belarusian markets three years ago. The company disposed of its business in Russia and Belarus to the local management at zero cost and on a debt-free, cash-free basis, with no consideration to take it back. Wargaming doesn’t have any assets or business interests in Russia and Belarus.”
It’s alleged the Russian prosecutor general’s office believe Khatazhaev and Kisly are part of an “association that carries out extremist activities.” Russia has also cited Wargaming’s $1m fund-raising efforts as a reason for the seize and used propaganda purportedly showing Ukrainian soldiers playing Wargaming titles as evidence of this.
Lesta Studios has since filed a complaint challenging the decision.
Wargaming, the studio behind World of Tanks, fired creator director Sergey Burkatovskiy back in 2022 after he publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when hundreds of its team were then based in the country’s capital, Kyiv. Wargaming left Russia and Belarus later that same year. The company stated Burkatovskiy’s opinion did “not reflect the position of the company.”
