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Russian Studio Plans Steam Release of “Ukrainian Warfare” Game Glorifying 2022 Hostomel Assault
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The Russian development studio Cats Who Play has announced the upcoming release of a new real-time strategy game titled Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes.
Scheduled to debut on Steam on March 24, 2026, the project focuses on the initial stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, specifically the battles for the Antonov Airport in Hostomel, according to Suspilne News on March 12.
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The game features a single-player campaign consisting of six missions. These levels attempt to recreate events starting from the initial paratrooper landing at the airfield near Kyiv through the subsequent withdrawal of Russian forces at the end of March 2022.
While the international version carries the Ukrainian Warfare title, the developers plan to market the game within Russia under the name Gostomel Knights.
In their presentation on the Steam platform, the developers argued that "modern video games can be an effective way of conveying information, often even more effective than the most detailed analytical articles or news stories." They stated that their goal is to "show what happened in Ukraine at the beginning of this war."
The game’s description characterizes the early days of the invasion as a "brilliant Russian airborne assault on the outskirts of Kyiv." The developers further noted that “reports and documentaries have been made about Ukraine. But we want to tell this story through the prism of a game. And don't let the word ‘game’ mislead you.”
“This is not a documentary, but it depicts with all seriousness the events of the first days of this war—from the moment of the brilliant Russian landing on the outskirts of Kyiv to the time when the war seemed to have to end with the signing of a draft peace agreement in Istanbul in March 2022."
According to the studio, although Steam has permitted the game’s release for international audiences, the platform has blocked its sale within Russia. The developers described the reasons for this restriction as "unclear," noting that a similar ban was previously applied to their earlier project, Squad 22: ZOV.
The appearance of the game has prompted a response from the Ukrainian gaming community, which is calling on platform users to report the project. Critics argue that the game functions as a tool for propaganda, justifies armed aggression, and relies on manipulative facts.
They suggest that reports to Steam should reference Ukrainian laws that prohibit the glorification of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the promotion of totalitarian symbols.
The studio involved was previously highlighted in research by The Games Gathering regarding the use of video games for propaganda purposes.
In 2025, the game Squad 22: ZOV was released on Steam, serving as a Russian propaganda tool that promoted narratives of "liberation" regarding occupied territories.
Developed by SPN Studio, the project was described as a tactical strategy where players took on the roles of Russian squad leaders to complete missions based on real-world events, such as the siege of Mariupol.
The game was officially recommended by the Russian Ministry of Defense as an infantry tactic manual for cadet training. Its lead creator, Alexander Tolkach, was a former diplomat with extensive experience in developing games designed for behavioral modeling and “mind inception.”
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