Ukrainian Esports Team Natus Vincere Releases Statement About Their Status
Natus Vincere (aka Na’Vi) is one of the oldest and most successful esports teams in the business. They’ve been around since 2009, and have won various titles in their years within the business, including the International in 2011, multiple Intel Extreme Masters tournaments, as well as winning the ESL Pro League Season 14 championship. The only problem, at least for them? Is that their headquarters are situated within Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
While there have been all sorts of international support for Ukraine, and withdrawing favor for those in the Russian sphere. Some within Ukraine have fled. Na’Vi though has issued a statement about the matter.
“The war continues,” the team wrote. “Now every resident of Ukraine, including the Na’Vi employees, is doing everything possible. They protect the cities as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense, provide assistance in Ukraine as volunteers, or simply take care of loved ones.
“More than 90% of our employees are now in Ukraine and are not going to leave the country. We take people out of the most dangerous regions and help them find housing. On our cars, volunteers daily deliver humanitarian aid around Kyiv and the region, and all Na’Vi clothes are distributed to people who spend the second week in cold bomb shelters, to children in hospitals and orphanages.”
Currently, Na’Vi states that they will soon restart “covering matches, posting videos and communicating on social media“, but has not mentioned if they will or will not take part in ESL Pro League season 15. For the moment, it is assumed that they will, and maintain their teams for CS:GO, Rainbow Six Siege, Dota 2, Apex Legends, PUBG, Rocket League, among others.
Na’Vi, however, also stated that they will be starting up programs to support the Ukrainian people, and will continue to speak out against the Russian invasion. They will also continue to support not only their teams but staff personnel.
“These are more than 80 employees who almost always remain in the shadows. Now we stick together and help each other,” Na’Vi said.
Stay safe, Na’Vi.