The most famous face in Ukrainian Counter-Strike 2 has walked away from the organization he built. Oleksandr Zinchenko, the professional footballer who launched PassionUA in August 2023, has officially ended his association with the club, the organization confirmed on June 23.

The departure lands at what might charitably be called an awkward moment. PassionUA’s entire active CS2 roster is rumored to be up for sale, a planned player acquisition has collapsed, and the organization could soon be left with just three players on its books.

A roster in freefall

According to dust2.us, the club’s purchase of player Santino Rigal has fallen through entirely. On top of that, Team Liquid are reportedly set to sign Johnny Theodosiou, poaching yet another piece from a roster that’s quickly running out of pieces.

If both moves play out as expected, PassionUA would be left with just three players: Viktor “sdy” Orudzhev, Vladyslav “Kvem” Korol, and Nicholas “nicx” Lee.

The organization has earned approximately $274,693 in total winnings since its founding.

Zinchenko’s slow fade

The split didn’t happen overnight. Zinchenko had already stepped back from day-to-day operations in May 2025. Leadership transferred to CEO Artemijs Rjabovs at that point, making Zinchenko more of a figurehead than a decision-maker before the formal exit.

During his more active period, Zinchenko leaned into the project with genuine enthusiasm. He even registered as a substitute player for IEM Atlanta in 2026. The founding vision was straightforward: use Zinchenko’s global profile to elevate Ukrainian esports talent and attract attention to a scene that had produced world-class players but lacked organizational infrastructure backed by mainstream star power.

Founded on August 20, 2023, the org is now approaching its third anniversary without its founder and with a roster that may not survive the summer transfer window intact.

What this means for esports investment

There have been no indications linking PassionUA to cryptocurrency or blockchain entities, solidifying its position as a traditional esports organization focusing solely on Counter-Strike 2 competition.

If PassionUA can retain its remaining three players and rebuild around them, there’s a path forward. If sdy, Kvem, and nicx follow their former teammates out the door, what remains is essentially a brand name attached to a CEO and not much else.