The Russian government has taken control of the former Wargaming studio, Lesta, citing its support for Ukraine

According to reports, the Russian government has taken control of Lesta Studios, originally a part of the Wargaming network.

The entire Moscow-based establishment was reportedly "taken over" by the Russian administration on April 17, 2025. This action was partly due to the previous owner, Wargaming, lending support to Ukraine in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion, marking the start of the "deadliest conflict on European soil in more than seven decades."

Court documents accessed by RIA indicated a "claim filed by the Deputy Prosecutor General of Russia to prohibit the involvement of [Wargaming owner] V.V. Kisly and [Lesta founder] M.A. Khatazhaev and to transition their shares to state ownership."

Wargaming communicated to VGC that it had strategically exited both the Russian and Belarusian markets three years prior. The organization had transferred its operations there to local administration without cost and free of any debts, with no plans to reclaim them. Wargaming emphasized it no longer maintains any assets or commercial stakes in these countries.

Allegations suggest that the Russian prosecutor general's office views Khatazhaev and Kisly as contributors to an "extremist group." The state's arguments also included Wargaming's over $1 million fundraising for Ukraine and promotional content showing Ukrainian soldiers engaging with Wargaming products.

In response, Lesta Studios has contested the governmental resolution.

Wargaming, responsible for the game World of Tanks, had dismissed creative director Sergey Burkatovskiy in 2022 after he endorsed Russia's military actions against Ukraine. At that time, numerous employees were stationed in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. Wargaming vacated the Russian and Belarusian markets by the end of that year, asserting that Burkatovskiy's views did "not represent the company's stance."