PassionUA’s most recognizable face is gone. Oleksandr Zinchenko, the professional footballer who founded the Ukrainian Counter-Strike 2 organization in August 2023, has left the club, the org confirmed on June 23.
The timing isn’t great. As reported by dust2.us, Zinchenko’s exit lands as PassionUA’s entire active CS2 roster is rumoured to be up for sale. Meanwhile, the club’s purchase of player Santino Rigal has fallen through, while Team Liquid are apparently set to sign Johnny Theodosiou. If all that happens, PassionUA would be left with three players: Viktor “sdy” Orudzhev, Vladyslav “Kvem” Korol and Nicholas “nicx” Lee. Not good.
A nearly three-year partnership ends quietly
Zinchenko broke the news himself via a Twitch broadcast. Instead of spelling out the reasons for his departure, he chose to chat about his time with the organization, with the former Arsenal player pointing to his appearances alongside the team at two CS2 Majors — Budapest and Shanghai — and reaffirming his personal attachment to Counter-Strike and the Ukrainian community.
In a post on X, Passion thanked him for his work over the years and expressed their gratitude for the way Zinchenko helped them to unlock new opportunities.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has made the decision to end his partnership with Passion UA 🇺🇦
— PassionUA.gg (@PassionuaGG) June 23, 2026
For three years, Zinchenko stood alongside Passion UA as a media partner — helping build the club's brand, unlocking new opportunities, and believing in the project from day one. pic.twitter.com/8zgyzrCnmA
The AFC Ajax defender had already stepped back from day-to-day control before this formal exit. Per a UK Companies House notice, Zinchenko transferred effective ownership to CEO Artemijs Rjabovs back in May 2025, making Monday’s announcement the final, public conclusion of a relationship that had been winding down for over a year.
Rjabovs acknowledged the founder’s contribution directly: “Three years ago, Oleksandr Zinchenko believed in Passion UA. His support helped lay the foundation for the club’s growth, and his involvement in the project was an important part of our shared story. I’m grateful for the support, the trust, and the belief in the project throughout all this time.”
He added that PassionUA “continues to move forward… with full focus on what lies ahead.”
What Zinchenko actually built
It’s easy to reduce Zinchenko’s role to a celebrity stamp on a gaming org but, to Zinchenko’s credit, the reality was a bit more substantive. His mainstream profile as a Premier League and international footballer undoubtedly gave PassionUA the kind of instant credibility that most tier-two esports clubs spend years trying to manufacture.
That access translated into a commercial partner roster that punches above the org’s competitive weight. PassionUA currently counts Lorgar, VBet, and adidas among its sponsors — a lineup that reflects the kind of institutional relationships that Zinchenko’s sporting network helped unlock. Few CS2 organizations outside the very top tier hold a deal with a global sportswear brand.
This is the challenge Rjabovs now inherits. The sponsorship infrastructure is intact but the competitive product isn’t.
Writer’s take
Zinchenko’s exit isn’t a surprise but the timing is about as awkward as it gets. Walking out while the roster is being dismantled and key signings are falling through gives the impression of a ship being abandoned, even if the reality is a long-planned, amicable wind-down. Rjabovs has the commercial foundation to rebuild but the harder question is whether PassionUA can attract CS2 talent without its founder’s name as a selling point.
What’s next for PassionUA
The club’s Valve Regional Standings rank sits at 75th globally — a number that matters for Major qualification pathways and shapes which free agents would seriously consider joining. With three roster spots effectively open and no IGL or AWPer confirmed, a hefty rebuild job awaits for a team that had already rejigged their roster earlier in the year.
PassionUA needs to move quickly, though, because the CS2 transfer market doesn’t wait, and every day of uncertainty makes it harder to attract the players needed to stabilize the lineup. The recent VCT 2027 overhaul is a reminder of how much structural changes across the esports landscape are reshaping what orgs need from their rosters and partnerships. PassionUA will have to tackle those pressures head-on without the buffer of a high-profile founder for the first time.
