Game development studio Evoplay has enacted its emergency contingency plans for its majority-Ukrainian team, relocating some staff to Cyprus and others to a new facility in Lviv.
Some 15% of staff have relocated to Cyprus since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on 24 November, while for those that have chosen to remain in Ukraine, Evoplay has organised working and living facilities for its new office in Lviv in the east of the country.
The developer also launched a fund for its entire workforce, with all Ukraine-based team members providing full financial and logistical support to relocate to the safest regions of the country.
Team members wanting to relocate to Cyprus will also be provided with the means to do so.
Evoplay said that it would operate as usual from its new locations across Europe, with its contingency plan to ensure the studio game development would continue as scheduled throughout 2022.
Meanwhile, Evoplay has donated to a number of schemes to support people in Ukraine and volunteering initiatives that actively support the humanitarian relief effort.
In addition, a significant portion of Evoplay’s staff have committed to joining volunteer and relief efforts, with the studio granting unlimited leave and financial support for those involved in these projects.
“As a Ukrainian company at heart, and true advocates of world peace, we can not stand idle at such a challenging time and have pledged to support the Ukrainian relief effort in any way we can,” Evoplay chief executive Ivan Kravchuk said.
“We will channel every resource we have at our disposal into efforts to rehouse our Ukraine-based team members. Supporting the wider needs of Ukraine during such a dark time in our history is the least we could do, and we pledge to do everything we can to support humanitarian efforts on the ground as the situation develops.
“We thank all of our friends and partners for their kind words of support.”
A number of other gambling businesses with facilities in Ukraine have taken similar steps in recent weeks in response to the invasion.
Aristocrat Leisure said it had helped more than two thirds of employees and their families from Ukraine-based business units of its Pixel United mobile social gaming division amid the ongoing invasion of the country by Russia.
Content developer Playson also paid a special tribute to its staff in Ukraine for their efforts, revealing some employees has signed up to join Ukraine’s Armed Forces to fight.
Meanwhile, ‘Gaming Industry For Ukraine’, an initiative set up earlier this month to support the people of Ukraine, has so far raised more than £206,000 of a £250,000 target.
