How do we cope with the consequences of the war in Ukraine?
KEY POINTS OF THE ARTICLE
- Adaptation of Whimsy Games’ operations due to the war in Ukraine.
- Establishment of new offices in Warsaw and Lisbon for team safety and continuity.
- Relocation of staff to safe locations, with 95% working outside or in Western Ukraine.
- Implementation of financial and emotional support measures for team members.
- Ongoing commitment to delivering both existing and new projects.
- Call for global support for Ukraine through donations and solidarity.
When russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, it changed everything – for millions of Ukrainians and for us at Whimsy Games. Our head office was in Kyiv. The shock was immediate, the uncertainty total.
More than three years on, the war continues. Ukrainian cities still face daily strikes, and millions of people remain displaced. For us, this is not a distant news story – it is the lived reality of our team.
What this article describes is how we adapted in those first critical months: relocating staff, opening offices in Warsaw and Lisbon, and putting in place the support structures that allowed us to keep delivering for our clients. Those foundations are still in place today, and our commitment to both our team and our work has only grown stronger.
What actions did we take?
We did our best to keep our team safe and sound and continue to deliver results. In order to achieve this, we:
- defined safe locations. Obviously, the best option was to send our team-mates abroad. Within Ukraine, the safest regions are Zakarpattia, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, which are furthest from the battlefields of this ongoing conflict.
- developed a contingency plan. We relocated as many team members as we could abroad. Redundant communication channels were established whenever possible.
- provided financial support and assistance in relocation.
- continued communication with our clients to alleviate their fears.
- focused on internal communication. Our HR specialists are conducting 1-to-1’s to identify the emotional strain, support, and motivate people.
- improved the delivery process. All existing projects are under way. Moreover, we start new ones. New commits are made each day. Project teams are designed to include enough specialists working from safe locations with stable internet connection.
Do we have a plan B if the situation gets worse?
At the moment, 95% of our team are working from countries other than Ukraine or from safe regions in Western Ukraine. They have stable internet connections and are doing their best to proceed with the existing and new projects. If the conflict escalates even further, we are prepared to relocate as many of our team-mates out of Ukraine as we can and continue our operations.
Believe in Whimsy Games! Believe in Ukraine!
Despite the war raging in our country, we manage to stay safe and continue our work. Moreover, we are motivated to do it more than ever. Rest assured that we will fulfill your projects to the best of our abilities!
As our company needs your faith, so does our country. We urge you to support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom. There are different ways you can help. In particular, you can support Ukrainian armed forces by donating through this charity organization or directly via the National Bank of Ukraine. Also, you can help Ukrainians affected by hostilities financially. Stand with Ukraine!
