- The player made a heartfelt speech at the IEM Katowice 2022 condemning the war
- He donated 1 million Ukrainian hryvnias ($33,000) to the Ukrainian army
- S1mple shares he is worried about his friends and family stuck in Kyiv
As Russia’s war on Ukraine continues, esports players from Ukraine try to help in some way they can, with S1mple donating money to Ukraine’s army.
S1mple Donates a Million Hryvna
The war in Ukraine has long-reaching effects reaching into the world of esports and gaming. There are many professional players from the involved countries, one of which is Ukrainian CS:GO pro-Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev. The player, who is currently in Poland for the IEM Katowice 2022, made a heartfelt speech against the war and urged for peace talks to commence. However, seeing how things are going in his native country, the pro has decided to help by donating 1 million Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) which is roughly about $33,000 to the Ukrainian army.
S1mple shared this information via his official Instagram page thanking the Ukrainian armed forces for protecting their land, families, and loved ones.
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine caught the eye of the entire world with unprecedented coverage both from news agencies, as well as ordinary civilians and soldiers capturing the war on their cellphones. The EU and other countries have already put massive sanctions aimed to stifle the Russian economy and force the government to the negotiating table. Also, many athletes have been banned from various events, and this includes even professional gamers participating in esports tournaments. Not to mention the fact that many Ukrainian players cannot leave the country due to a general mobilization, which forbids able-bodied men from the ages of 18 to 60 to leave.
S1mple and the War
The 24-year-old player was caught abroad when Russia’s invasion started in the early hours of February 24. He expressed his distress of the fact that he has friends and family in Kyiv, which seems to still be the main focus of the Russian advance into Ukraine.
The whole western world seems to have united against Putin’s aggression towards a sovereign country, with many condemning his actions. S1mple, being Ukrainian is doing what he thinks is best for his country by donating to its armed forces. Additionally, he recently posted a message in Russian on his Instagram account, inspired by Tolkien, which reads as follows:
“Sons of Ukraine! Kyiv! My brothers! I see in your eyes the fear that would take my heart. It may come a day when bravery leaves men and we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. Maybe it will come the day of the wolf when shields shatter and come the end of the age of man, but it is not today. Today we fight! For everything you love on this glorious world!”
