ASTRA: Oligarch’s son set to buy Russia’s largest gaming company

Former Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin is reportedly close to acquiring Lesta Games, the Russian gaming company behind World of Tanks and World of Warships, according to Russian independent outlet ASTRA.

Mazepin, the son of Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, is said to be on the “final stretch” of negotiations to purchase Lesta Games. Dmitry Mazepin is the former co-owner of Uralkali and the main shareholder of Uralchem.

A source familiar with the negotiations told ASTRA that the remaining issue is the purchase price, adding that Mazepin became involved in the deal as early as autumn 2025.

Another source claimed that the transaction documents had already been prepared.

The deal is reportedly valued at 45–50 billion roubles, or approximately $594 million. In the latest Russian Forbes ranking of the country’s most valuable internet companies, Lesta Games ranked 12th, with an estimated value of $1.6 billion.

A representative for Mazepin confirmed that a deal was being pursued, saying that UKM Group, where Mazepin serves as CEO, is carrying out several transactions in the digital technology and artificial intelligence sectors. Lesta Games declined to comment.

Lesta Games was founded by Malik Khatazhaev and was previously associated with Belarusian gaming company Wargaming, founded by Victor Kislyi. In 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Wargaming withdrew from Russia and Belarus and transferred its local business to Lesta Games.

Wargaming retained the World of Tanks and World of Warships brands for international markets, while Lesta Games began operating the Russian versions under the names World of Tanks, World of Warships and Tanks Blitz.

In March 2025, Lesta Games reported record revenue. A month later, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office seized the company’s assets. Russian authorities subsequently designated Khatazhaev and Kislyi as members of an “extremist association” over Wargaming’s fundraising activities in support of Ukraine.

Khatazhaev denied having ties to Kislyi, but Lesta Games was nevertheless nationalised. Boris Dobrodeev, the former head of VKontakte and the VK holding company, was subsequently appointed CEO of the company.

Nikita Mazepin and his father are subject to sanctions imposed by Ukraine and several other countries.

By Vugar Khalilov