Former race car driver Nikita Mazepin may become the owner of the Russian game developer behind ‘World of Tanks’ and ‘World of Ships’

Source: Forbes

Nikita Mazepin, a former race car driver and the son of Uralchem principal shareholder Dmitry Mazepin, could become the owner of Lesta Games, Russia’s largest video game company, which was seized from its previous owners, sources told Forbes Russia.

One source said the deal has not yet closed but is nearing completion: “He [the younger Mazepin] was one of the first to get involved, back in the fall of last year.” Forbes’ sources valued the company at 30-35 billion rubles.

A representative for Nikita Mazepin confirmed that UKM Group, which Mazepin heads, “is pursuing several deals in digital technology, fintech, and AI.”

Lesta Games operates “Mir Tankov” (“World of Tanks”), “Mir Korabley” (“World of Ships”) and “Tanks Blitz” in Russia. It was previously part of Belarusian businessman Viktor Kislyi’s company Wargaming, but Wargaming withdrew from the Russian and Belarusian markets after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Its gaming operations in both countries were placed under Lesta Games’ management.

In 2025, Kislyi and Lesta Games owner Malik Khatazhaev were designated as members of an “extremist organization.” The designation stemmed from a fundraiser Wargaming held in support of Ukraine after withdrawing from Russia. Lesta Games was subsequently nationalized.

Lesta Games ranked 12th on Forbes Russia’s 2026 list of the most valuable internet companies, with an estimated value of $1.6 billion.

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Former race car driver Nikita Mazepin may become the owner of the Russian game developer behind ‘World of Tanks’ and ‘World of Ships’

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