For more than a week, Ukraine has been fighting for its independence. The esports community is not sitting idle, either. Well-known players and esports organizations are breaking off relations with Russian teams, players, and organizations. Every day, more and more companies join Ukraine, supporting the army, sending humanitarian aid, and stopping their sponsorships of Russian communities.

NaVi team player Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev has donated more than UAH 1.5 million to help the Ukrainian army, noting that he can help his country in some way. NaVi has supported its leader and severed all relations with ESforce Holding, which denied that the events taking place in Ukraine were a war. ESforce Holding includes RuHub, Epic Esports Events, Cybersport.ru, and Virtus.Pro. So, all the above companies have lost their contracts and agreements with NaVi.

The oldest esports organizations in the world have changed their Twitter profile pictures to represent the colors of the Ukrainian flag as a sign of support for Ukraine. Check out the updated blue and yellow logos of G2 Esport, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Astralis Counter-Strike, FaZe Clan, BIG, HEROIC, and more on Twitter. By repainting Twitter in our national colors, the esports community does not let each other forget about the war waged by Russia.

In addition, Russia’s aggressive behavior has also affected the esports market within the country. Steam has confirmed that all purchases made with Russian credit cards have been canceled. Distancing itself from the invaders, BLAST Premier announced the termination of qualifications for the CIS region and withdrew invitations for all Russian-based teams for the near future.

Such changes couldn’t go unnoticed by the Russian teams. Team Spirit has issued a statement that the organization are against war and violence, and gave all the money earned from Gamers Galaxy: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 to the Red Cross Movement.

Representatives of the esports world are encouraging people to talk about the war and asking Russian fans to influence the situation. Among those who have spoken out is the famous Ukrainian Dota 2 esports athlete Danil “Dendi” Ishutin, the winner of the first The International. Knowing silence isn’t an option, Danil recorded a video message calling on Russian servicemen to shed the cover of propaganda and leave the Ukrainian land.

Translation of a quote from Danil’s speech: “Everyone keeps asking me how I am and if everything is okay. <...> No, I’m not okay — I have been consumed with anxiety throughout these days. <...> What is happening now in our country is a nightmare. The Russian army came to our land. My relatives and close friends are being hit by Hrad projectiles and machine gun fire. People are dying, homes and lives are being destroyed. <...> Please hear me. Russian folks, stop believing propaganda — you are getting firsthand information about the horrors happening here. <...> I am 32 years old and I have been living in Lviv for 32 years. I speak Russian freely here and I have never faced any kind of oppression from anyone due to this fact.”

Mykhailo Fedorov, deputy prime minister of Ukraine, encourages gaming and esports companies to block Russian and Belarusian players, teams, and organizations. This is how any company can motivate the citizens of Russia to take proactive steps to stop the disgraceful military aggression. Deciding on helping Ukraine, you will join industry leaders such as ESL, BLAST Premier, WePlay Holding, Maincast, and others.

Russian propaganda is doing its best to make people believe in their good intentions. Government-controlled media are avoiding the word war, replacing it with “conflict” and “special operation.” If you want to help Ukraine, don’t shy away from the truth. Call a spade a spade. There is a war going on in Ukraine: Russian bombs are destroying houses, civilians are suffering, and other terrible things are happening. Talk about the war, share Ukrainian news, post photos of the ruined cities of Ukraine.

War takes more and more lives every day. Older people, children, and adults are losing their homes, loved ones, and peaceful lives. But the support of the esports community gives hope. If you are against war, you can help Ukraine now in many ways.

The National Bank has opened a special account to raise funds for the army’s needs.

To donate in UAH:

Bank: National Bank of Ukraine

MFO 300001

Account No: UA843000010000000047330992708

USREOU code: 00032106

BENEFICIARY: National Bank of Ukraine

To donate in USD:

BENEFICIARY: National Bank of Ukraine

BENEFICIARY BIC: NBUA UA UX

BENEFICIARY ADDRESS: 9 Instytutska St, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 400807238

BENEFICIARY BANK NAME: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, New York

BENEFICIARY BANK BIC: CHASUS33

ABA 0210 0002 1

BENEFICIARY BANK ADDRESS: 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA

PURPOSE OF PAYMENT: for crediting account 47330992708

To donate in EUR:

BENEFICIARY: National Bank of Ukraine

BENEFICIARY BIC: NBUAUAUXXXX

IBAN DE05504000005040040066

PURPOSE OF PAYMENT: for crediting account 47330992708

BENEFICIARY BANK NAME: DEUTSCHE BUNDESBANK, Frankfurt

BENEFICIARY BANK BIC: MARKDEFF

BENEFICIARY BANK ADDRESS: Wilhelm-Epstein-Strasse 14, 60431 Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

To donate in GBP:

BENEFICIARY/RECIPIENT NAME: National Bank of Ukraine

SORT CODE: 60-92-42

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0080033041

GB52CHAS60924280033041

REFERENCE FOR CREDITING ACCOUNT: 47330992708

BENEFICIARY BIC: NBUA UA UX

BENEFICIARY ADDRESS: 9 Instytutska St, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine

BENEFICIARY BANK NAME: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NA, London

BENEFICIARY BANK BIC: CHASGB2L

BENEFICIARY BANK ADDRESS: 125 London Wall, London EC2Y 5AJ, UK

To donate in CHF:

BENEFICIARY: National Bank of Ukraine

BENEFICIARY BIC: NBUA UA UX

BENEFICIARY ADDRESS: 9 Instytutska St, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0700-01227572

IBAN CH32 0070 0070 0012 2757 2

BENEFICIARY BANK NAME: ZURCHER KANTONALBANK, ZURICH

BENEFICIARY BANK BIC: ZKBKCHZZ80A

BENEFICIARY BANK ADDRESS: Josefstrasse 222, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland

PURPOSE OF PAYMENT: for crediting account 47330992708

To donate in AUD:

BENEFICIARY: National Bank of Ukraine

BENEFICIARY BIC: NBUA UA UX

BENEFICIARY ADDRESS: 9 Instytutska St, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 81753-2

BENEFICIARY BANK NAME: RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, Sydney

BENEFICIARY BANK BIC: RSBKAU2S

BENEFICIARY BANK ADDRESS: GPO Box 3947, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

PURPOSE OF PAYMENT: for crediting account 47330992708

To donate in CAD:

BENEFICIARY: National Bank of Ukraine

BENEFICIARY BIC: NBUA UA UX

BENEFICIARY ADDRESS: 9 Instytutska St, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 3144-1044-166

BENEFICIARY BANK NAME: BANK OF MONTREAL, Toronto

BENEFICIARY BANK BIC: BOFMCAM2

BENEFICIARY BANK ADDRESS: 100 King Street West, 24th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1A1, Canada

PURPOSE OF PAYMENT: for crediting account 47330992708

To donate in PLN:

BENEFICIARY: National Bank of Ukraine

BENEFICIARY BIC: NBUA UA UX

BENEFICIARY ADDRESS: 9 Instytutska St, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine

ACCOUNT NUMBER: PL91113000070080239435200002

BENEFICIARY BANK NAME: Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego

BENEFICIARY BANK BIC: GOSKPLPW

BENEFICIARY BANK ADDRESS: Al. Jerozolimskie 7, 00-955 Warszawa, Polska (temporary address: Chmielna 73, 00-801 Warszawa, Polska)

PURPOSE OF PAYMENT: for crediting account 47330992708

Glory to Ukraine!