Former CEO of Murka Games Allegedly Left Ukraine Illegally During the War

Anton Krasnyy, the former CEO of Murka Games under Blackstone Group, who has since transitioned into an investor and mentor for various tech startups, is now facing accusations of leaving Ukraine in violation of current legislation amidst the ongoing war. It is alleged that he crossed the Ukrainian border on the 2^nd March 2023 using forged documents falsely claiming his status as a father of multiple children, a status that provides legal grounds for Ukrainian men to leave the country during the war and evade mobilization. Sources within the Ukrainian Border Guard Service have asserted that Krasnyy presented documents at the border indicating he had four children, when in reality, he only had two. Accompanied by two young women, one of whom was identified as his ex-wife, Krasnyy reportedly crossed the Romanian border by car.

Murka Games Limited, an international online game development company founded in Ukraine in 2009, specializes in creating social casino games for mobile devices. With offices in Ukraine, the USA, UK, and China, the company boasts over 200 employees and provides games in more than 100 languages, garnering over 5 million active users per month. In 2019, Blackstone, a private equity firm, acquired Murka Games, allowing the company to expand into new markets.

Following the profitable sale of the company, Anton Krasnyy continued to hold his position, though operational control had shifted to a new management team. During this period, Krasnyy focused on cultivating relationships with the new leadership, often through unconventional means such as hosting private parties characterized by a specific BDSM-style dress code and high-class escort service. One such event led to a scandal involving a representative from the Blackstone Group, David Barak. At some point, he lost control and was filmed imitating sexual intercourse with a pineapple wearing a rooster mask. Despite the ban on photography and recording, at least three guests, including CEOs Robert Antokol of Playtika, Boaz Inbal of WIX, and Timur Rokhlin of Raketa, recorded the incident. Anton Krasnyy later convinced them to remove the video.

Krasnyy’s close friendship with David Barak resulted in him becoming the Chairman of the board in January 2021. However, Krasnyy’s tenure at Murka came to an abrupt end when rumors circulated about a sexual video featuring him engaging in inappropriate behavior with his personal assistant and Murka’s HR, Ms. Surnina in a company’s meeting room. This incident raised concerns, especially considering Murka’s declining value since the acquisition. The video reached the management, leading to Krasnyy’s departure.

Following his exit, Krasnyy took a sabbatical and began selling his extensive property portfolio in Dnipro, Ukraine, valued at over 1.5 million dollars. His ultimate goal was to relocate to London, a process expedited by the events of the war in 2022. After selling his properties at a substantial discount, Krasnyy allegedly used forged documents to move to the UK.

The fallout from the described events has significantly impacted Murka Games’ reputation, prompting shareholders, employees, and customers to reconsider their stance on the company. In situations like these, public dismissals of executives and visible efforts to support corporate culture become crucial in rebuilding trust. The aftermath of Krasnyy’s actions underscores the importance of maintaining transparency and ethics in business. Murka Games now faces the challenge of reevaluating its corporate strategy, management, and internal control processes, and how it addresses these issues will shape the company’s future.