Impact of Sanctions on Payments for Clients in Eastern Europe

In response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, extensive international sanctions have been imposed. These developments have affected our ability to operate and process payments in several regions, leading Design Hunt to suspend services for customers in the following areas:

- Russia  

- Belarus  

- The disputed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) regions of Ukraine  

If you are accessing Design Hunt from any of the listed areas, your account will be impacted. Please review the following FAQs, and don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at [email protected] if you have further questions.

I’m a Client in One of the Affected Areas:

What will happen to my account?  

Your account, including any ongoing contests or projects, will be inaccessible until the sanctions are lifted.

Can I open a new account? 

As of March 23, 2022, you will not be able to create an account from any of the aforementioned regions.

Can I make a purchase?  

No, access to the site will be restricted from the areas affected by these sanctions.

Can I complete a Contest or Project I’ve already started?  

While you will not be able to access the site, if you need help retrieving any existing files, please contact [email protected] for assistance.

I’m a Client Outside of the Affected Areas but Working with a Designer in Ukraine:

Can I continue working with a designer in Ukraine?

If the designer is able and available to continue, then yes, you can likely proceed with your collaboration. The only area of Ukraine affected by sanctions is a small part of our designer community.

I awarded or hired a designer whose account was blocked due to sanctions, but the work is incomplete. What should I do?

Please reach out to us at [email protected], and we will assist you with a tailored solution.

I’m concerned about a designer in Ukraine I’m working with. What can I do?  

This is an understandably challenging time for those in Ukraine. While communication may be difficult for some, consider reaching out to your designer to check on their situation. If you prefer not to do this or would like our team to contact them on your behalf, please email [email protected], and we’ll be glad to assist.

I’m a Client Outside of the Affected Areas but Working with a Designer in Russia:

Can I continue to work with them?

Unfortunately, you will not be able to continue your collaboration with designers located in Russia.

If your designer informs you that they can no longer work with you due to payout restrictions, please contact us at [email protected], and we will help you find an alternative solution.

I awarded or hired a designer in Russia who cannot complete their work due to sanctions. What can I do?

Please reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to help you with a customized solution.

If PayPal and other payment providers are not operational, should I seek alternative payment methods for designers?

We do not recommend attempting to make payments outside of Design Hunt, as we cannot offer support for transactions conducted outside the platform.