Natus Vincere is one of the best teams in the world in the tactical shooter Counterstrike: Global Offensive (Steam). The CS:GO team is based in Ukraine, but had three Russians in the line-up, with whom they were very successful. But the situation surrounding the war in Ukraine now seems to divide the team: Captain Kirill “Boobml4” Mikhaylov (23) has to go. NAVI expressly says: The separation has nothing to do with his performance in the game.
Which player is it about?
18-year-old pro draws a “Z” in DOTA 2: Valve disqualifies his team – he is fired
Decision has nothing to do with his game
What the team says: The team announces that Booml4 has parted ways after the Antwerp major. The team finished second there and raked in $150,000.
It says (via navi.gg):
The decision relates to the high reputational risk for the club, it’s not the result of his game.
How you want to replace Booml4, you would like to announce later. There is no further official information.
The team’s top player, s1mple, said somewhat resignedly on Twitter that that’s just the way the world works. He thanks the player and says: Without Boombl4, the team would not have achieved any of the successes they achieved together.
Player repeatedly spoke out for peace, apologizes for his wife
This is what the player had previously said: Even if no one says it so openly, the war by Russia in Ukraine is apparently behind the dismissal.
The captain had already said a few weeks before his dismissal in a statement on May 5 (via escorenews): He was sorry that he had been silent about everything for so long. He apologizes for the behavior of his wife Lika.
The Russian says he has often been to Ukraine and has never been discriminated against. He is sorry that other citizens believed the television. It’s hard for sensible people like him to say things at this time.
He knows that many will not be happy with his message, but he wants to say that he stands for peace and against bloodshed.
He couldn’t say more now.
– Ukraine Live Blog (via Time)
– War in Ukraine (via nzz)
– Solidarity with Ukraine (via Foreign Office)
Important NOTE: If you are plagued by dark thoughts about the current situation: you are not alone. Please get help. For example, with the telephone pastoral care on 0800/111 0 111 or the online pastoral care, where you can also use a chat. It’s free and applies nationwide.
What do you think is behind it? Natus Vincere is a Ukrainian team: the team’s boss had said he wasn’t ready to work with Russian players who continue to live in Russia. The three Russian professionals from Natus Vincere then agreed to leave their home country.
However, it is now unclear whether Boombl4 reversed this decision and therefore had to leave.
Boombl4 is known to have spoken out in favor of peace ever since the war in Ukraine began. However, his wife has pledged her support to Russia. This is how she showed herself on Instagram with the Russian flag on her face and Russian tanks in the background.
Sportskeeda suggests that Ukrainian team NAVI could use this situation as a reason to part ways with Boombl4.
It is known that Russian citizens put themselves in personal danger when they speak critically about the war. It is therefore difficult for Russians living in Russia to take a clear and critical stance on their country’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Even if some in the West would like that of you:
Russian Twitch streamers are losing their livelihoods overnight