Ukrainian esports organization Natus Vincere (NAVI) has made bold moves to strengthen its  Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) roster. Breaking away from its tradition of predominantly Ukrainian players, NAVI has acquired Finnish in-game leader Aleksib, Romanian rifler Ivan “iM” Mihai, and Lithuanian player Justinas “jL” Lekavicius. This move comes at a crucial time for NAVI, as they aim to regain their competitive edge after a period of underperformance.

Time for some changes pic.twitter.com/XdsQogspHq

— NAVI (@natusvincere) June 30, 2023

NAVI’s CSGO Roster

Historically recognized for their reliance on Ukrainian talent, NAVI's decision to form an international lineup marks a new chapter in their CS:GO journey. With Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyljev and Valerij "b1t" Vakhovsjkyj as the only remaining representatives of their home country, NAVI is embarking on an unprecedented path to revitalize their performance in the esports scene.

The strategic changes in NAVI's roster are a response to the team's recent struggles. The Ukrainian organization faced a decline in form following the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The departure of their former Russian in-game leader, Kirill "Boombl4" Mikhaylov, in May 2022 only compounded their challenges. In an attempt to find stability, Denis "electroNic" Sharipov was appointed as the new in-game leader, but the move failed to yield the desired results. Despite a victory in the BLAST Premier Spring Final in June 2022, NAVI's performance remained inconsistent. The subsequent promotion of academy player Andrij "npl" Kukharsjkyj in January 2023 further exacerbated their issues, prompting NAVI to pursue an alternative path.

To finance these changes, NAVI capitalized on the transfer of Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov to G2 in 2022, which reportedly netted them approximately $600,000. Now, with their resources bolstered, NAVI has swiftly secured the services of three promising players. Among the new acquisitions, iM stands out as an intriguing addition. The Romanian rifler gained prominence during the BLAST Paris Major in May, where he played a pivotal role in GamerLegion's remarkable journey to the grand finals, finishing as the second highest-rated player in the tournament. Additionally, jL's inclusion brings further promise to the lineup, considering his impressive performance during Apeks' semifinal run in the Paris Major.

However, questions linger regarding the leadership abilities of Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen. While his signing brings experience and tactical acumen, he has not tasted significant success since his departure from ENCE in 2019. Stints with G2 and NiP have failed to yield any trophies, raising doubts about his ability to guide a star-studded lineup to victory.

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With Aleksib, iM, and jL joining the ranks alongside s1mple and b1t, NAVI aims to reclaim their position among the elite teams in the competitive CS:GO landscape. The international infusion of talent represents a calculated move, and only time will tell if this revamped lineup can lead NAVI to a triumphant resurgence.