MULTIPLAYER free online tank battle game World of Tanks is extremely popular in Eastern Europe, with publisher Wargaming maintaining a studio in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv (Kiev).
Given the fact Russia has invaded Ukraine and there are now Russian soldiers, armoured fighting vehicles, artillery shells and missiles making their way towards major Ukrainian cities including Kyiv, a lot of people are naturally concerned about the wellbeing of the Wargaming staff there.
With that in mind, Wargaming have publically confirmed they are providing all available assistance to their team in Kyiv and their families, including providing alternate housing as well as funds for travel and relocation.
The Ukrainian Government has issued a decree preventing men aged 18-60 from leaving the country (not that a large number appear to want to), but Wargaming Kyiv have said they are helping the families of staff travel to neighbouring countries and organising accommodation for them there. Poland has effectively opened its borders and is welcoming all Ukrainians, with hundreds of thousands of refugees crossing the border in the past couple of days alone, while large numbers of Ukrainian refugees have made their way to Slovakia, Hungary and Romania as well.
Rounding out the support announcement, Wargaming Kyiv are also donating USD$1m to the Ukrainian Red Cross, allowing the humanitarian organisation to undertake its vital work in the region as the war intensifies.
Dmitry A. Mottl, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The official statement from Wargaming is below:
“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.
We are helping our employees’ families to travel neighboring countries and organizing accommodation for them.
And lastly, today Wargaming Kyiv are donating $1m 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 organization as is needed.
We will be able to proceed with further humanitarian help if situation requires.”
