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Sergey Burkatovskiy
Given where this happened, the decision is more likely caused by pragmatism, not soy.
It’s a popular international game not trying to get sanctioned.
It will probably get sanctioned anyway, because it’s from Belarus.
We’ve learned the World of Tanks creative director was fired over voicing his support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Wargaming creative director, Sergey Burkatovskiy, said in a now-deleted Facebook post (via PC Gamer) that he supports “the operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the DPR [Donetsk People’s Republic] and the LPR [Luhansk People’s Republic].”
Wargaming was quick to disavow his statement, saying his words are “his personal opinion, which categorically does not coincide with the position of the company.” Wargaming said they’re now “focused on helping our 550+ Kyiv colleagues and their families.”
The developer is based in Belarus and employs a number of developers in the Ukraine capital, Kyiv. Things escalated again when Burkatovskiy posted another Facebook message, saying he “broke up with the VG.” While some sites translated “VG” as “WG” or Wargaming, the developer later confirmed his departure.
“Sergey Burkatovskiy expressed his personal opinion on social media which categorically does not reflect the position of the company,” Wargaming said in a statement. “He has been let go and is no longer at the company.”
Wargaming also changed their online advertising in World of Tanks, halting advertising globally and redesigning the assets of tanks and other military vehicles rolling through the battlefield. They then resumed advertising but have kept the halt in Ukraine “as we believe it is inappropriate and insensitive to advertise our games while it is the center of this conflict.”
Thus far, Belarus hasn’t been hit with the same kinds of sanctions as Russia, despite the fact that Russia used Belarus as a staging area to enter the Ukraine.
Not sure why.
Interview from 2012
