The heat is on for Wargaming, the creators of the globally popular tank warfare game World of Tanks. According to a report from a Russian Telegram channel affiliated with security services, Russian (terrorist state) authorities are attempting to seize assets belonging to Victor Kislyi, one of the company’s co-founders. This move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the Belarusian game development giant and the Russian government.

Kislyi, who holds Belarusian citizenship and resided in Cyprus before renouncing his citizenship in 2021, has previously faced criticism from Russian officials for his stance on the conflict in Ukraine. Notably, shortly after the conflict’s commencement, he left Wargaming, leaving his shares behind. Though he distanced himself from Wargaming in 2022 and refuted the claims against him, the pursuit of his assets by Russian authorities still presents a serious challenge.

Interestingly, despite relocating its headquarters from Minsk, Belarus to Nicosia, Cyprus, and claiming its final separation from the Russian and Belarusian markets in April 2022, Wargaming seems to still be entangled in the geopolitical crossfire.

Wargaming’s Lesta Studio, a former subsidiary located in St. Petersburg, Russia, that was handed over to its managers and became independent, continues to operate and manage World of Tanks in Russia and Belarus.

The attempt to seize Kislyi’s assets introduces a new layer of complexity to the situation, highlighting the continuing ramifications of the ongoing geopolitical conflict. It remains unclear what the long-term impact will be for Wargaming, and gamers worldwide will be watching closely to see how this story unfolds.