Artificial Core is an international company with team members all over the world (especially in these post-COVID times). Even so, a huge part of Corepunk’s development took place at our Kyiv office until recently. In early January, as the risk of a full-scale military conflict breaking out between Russia and Ukraine was steadily rising, we decided to set up a new office in Athens, Greece — we were looking for someplace sunny and not too far away. After making that decision, we offered our team members and their families in Ukraine assistance moving there.
When the war began, we set up an improvised support center for our team members who decided to stay in Ukraine to offer them and their families help with staying connected, getting to safety if possible and to provide mental health support to those who need it.
At this point, most of our team is safe in Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Austria and Norway; we have active offices in Athens and Amsterdam. Part of the team is in western Ukraine, which is relatively safe. Meanwhile, some team members and their families are still in dangerous central Ukraine, with slim prospects of getting out (at least for now). Several team members stayed there voluntarily to help out and protect their fellow Ukrainians.
Unfortunately, we lost contact with two team members who are in areas currently under heavy bombardment. There is regular street combat and no cellular coverage in these areas. We are continuing to try to reach them and offer any help we can. Until then, we hope they are OK.
Many of us have friends and family traversing dangerous roads to safety and sleeping in bomb shelters. Meanwhile, the news shows us images of the cities we grew up in being gradually demolished with 500 kg bombs as the civilian death toll rises every few hours. In conditions like these, it’s been hard to focus, even for those of us in Athens and Amsterdam. Once you’ve done what you could and some time has passed, though, it seems you can get used to anything: Those of us in safe areas, as much as possible, are gradually returning to previous mode of operations.
We’re sorry for staying silent until now. We were in emergency mode, and it was hard to even sit down and write these few lines. We’d also like to thank everyone for their kind words of support — they mean so much to us right now.
Don’t worry about Corepunk. We’re continuing our work, and the game is going to be great. Life is unpredictable, but you give it your all and you carry on.
We wish you all peace.
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