Blood on the Keyboard: Why Russian Players Still Compete in Esports

It has been almost four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Thousands of cities and towns have been destroyed, and countless lives have been lost. Yet despite this ongoing war, Russian players continue to compete freely in the global esports scene.

Over all this time, there has been only one notable attempt to address the issue at an official level. Denmark’s Minister of Culture, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, proposed banning Russian players from PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 in CS2. That initiative ultimately led nowhere.

It is easy to understand why. Unfortunately, money still rules the world. Russian players and organizations generate significant revenue for esports, and financial interests often outweigh moral responsibility. But an uncomfortable question remains:

Would it ever be acceptable to see teams linked to Islamist terrorist groups competing at Major tournaments? Most would agree that this would be unthinkable. Yet somehow, Russian participation is treated as normal.

Sports in Russia have never been separate from politics. Historically, Russian athletes were frequently tied to state security structures, including the KGB, and international competitions were often used as cover for intelligence gathering and other subversive activities. There is little reason to believe this reality has fundamentally changed.

The money earned by Russian esports players through international tournaments can — and very likely does — contribute to supporting Russia’s military machine, which continues to wage a brutal war against Ukraine.

In the 21st century, in the heart of Europe, cities are bombed every single day. Civilians are killed, entire regions are left without electricity and heating, even in freezing temperatures of –20°C. And yet, much of the world chooses to behave as if everything is business as usual.

This is a level of hypocrisy the modern world has not seen in a long time.And the most tragic part is that, despite everything, nothing is likely to change.