Featured Image Credit: Wargaming
Topics: World News, PC
World Of Tanks creative director Sergey Burkatovskiy has been fired by his studio, Wargaming, for expressing public support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In a Facebook post which has since been deleted (via Eurogamer), Burkatovskiy said that he supported "the operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the DPR [Donetsk People's Republic] and the LPR [Luhansk People's Republic]".
One day later, he revealed up that he had "broke up" with Wargaming. The studio has since confirmed the split to in a statement to PC Gamer.
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"Sergey Burkatovskiy expressed his personal opinion on social media which categorically does not reflect the position of the company," a Wargaming representative explained. "He has been let go and is no longer at the company."
Hundreds of staff currently working at the Belarus-based Wargaming HQ are from Ukraine. In response to Russia's ongoing invasion, the studio donated to 30m hryvnia ($1m) to the Ukrainian Red Cross to aid with humanitarian support as the conflict continues to tear innocent lives apart.
The company has also chosen to temporarily remove tanks and other military vehicles from its advertising around the world. It will not currently advertise in Ukraine at all, as the company believes it's "inappropriate" to advertise its games in the middle of an actual war.
"At Wargaming, the safety and security of our employees is the top priority. Currently, all available company resources are helping and supporting our 550+ colleagues: providing them with alternate housing, early salary payments, additional funds to aid travel and relocation," a statement confirmed.
"We are helping our employees' families to travel to neighbouring countries and organising accommodation for them. And lastly, today Wargaming Kyiv are donating $1 million to the Ukrainian Red Cross. These funds will be used to support Ukrainian hospitals and doctors, those citizens who have been displaced and other vital activities of the humanitarian organisation as is needed."