#FuckTheWar: Game studios voice their support for Ukraine as the country defends against Russian invasion

Earlier today, Stalker studio GSC Game World issued a statement on social media decrying the "inhuman cruelty" of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where it is based, and called for worldwide support for the country's armed forces. "Our country woke up with the sounds of explosions and weapons fire, but is ready to defend its freedom and independence, for it remains strong and ready for anything," it wrote. "The future is unknown, but we hope for the best, are ever sure of our armed forces and our belief in Ukraine."

Since then, as Russian forces continue to push into Ukraine, other studios have shared their support for the country. Frogwares, also based in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, tweeted, "We can't just stand by. Russia attacks our homeland and denies the sovereignty of Ukraine. We are trying to stay safe, but this is war, there are no two ways about it. We call on everyone to force Putin to withdraw from our lands."

"We're a peaceful nation, and in all the years since we gained our independence, we've never attacked or threatened anyone. Because of this situation, our work will be impacted and our lives can be destroyed."

The developer of the city-building game Ostriv shared somewhat more pointed thoughts: "Woke up today at 5 am to the sounds of Russian shelling. Those fucking 'peacekeepers,'" the studio wrote, referring to the language Russian president Vladimir Putin used when he ordered forces into parts of eastern Ukraine on Tuesday.

Survarium studio Vostok Games, another Kyiv-based developer, posted an image of the Ukrainian flag and the hashtag #StandWithUkraine.

"As things stand we are safe," the studio tweeted. "We continue our work remotely for the moment and will react to the situation, depending on how it develops."

Developers and publishers from other parts of the world are also taking a stance against Russian aggression. Polish developer 11 Bit Studios, the creator of the acclaimed anti-war game This War of Mine, pledged to donate all profits from sales of the game over the next week, across all stores and platforms, to the Ukrainian Red Cross.