Potential Ban on Russian VALORANT Players for International Event due to Ukraine Invasion
According to multiple sources, VALORANT players from Russia may face a potential ban from attending the first international event of the year. This is due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. The tournament, scheduled to take place in Reykjavík, Iceland, from April 10 to April 30, could see teams like Fnatic and FunPlus Phoenix needing substitute players.
Russian players such as Dmitry “SUYGETSU” Ilyushin, Andrey “Shao” Kiprsky, and Andrew “braveaf” Gorchakov would be affected by the ban. The status of Ukrainian player Kyrylo “ANGE1” Karasov, currently in Ukraine, and his ability to travel to the event remains uncertain.
Fnatic and FunPlus Phoenix have already begun making preparations by compiling lists of potential substitutes. Tournament host Riot Games is expected to inform teams by March 28 if their starting lineups can be used. However, unless a workaround is found, it is unlikely that Russian players will be able to attend the tournament.
Since VCT Masters is an international event, players need to travel to attend it. However, the ongoing Russian invasion has led to many European countries closing their airspace to Russian-owned aircraft. This restricts the travel options for Russian players.
European Flight Bans and A Possible Workaround
The minister for foreign affairs of Iceland announced the closure of Icelandic airspace to Russian aircraft in support of Ukraine on February 27. In response, Russia banned many European countries, including Iceland, from traveling into its airspace. This further complicates the travel situation for VALORANT players.
One possible workaround is for Russian players to travel to Serbia and then take a connecting flight to Iceland. Serbia has remained open for travel from Russia, and Air Serbia has increased the number of flights between Moscow and Belgrade.
Ongoing Invasion and Current Developments
The Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24 and is still ongoing. Ukrainian forces have recently reoccupied key locations west of Kyiv, while Russian forces continue their advances on Mariupol.
Source: BBC News
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