Meet Oleksandr "lucky_cryak" Romaniuk, a professional CS2 player. The esports community knows that he played for IKLA in the summer of 2023 and that he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the age of 19, trading in his mouse for real weapons to defend his homeland. Oleksandr's journey is an inspiring example and a reminder that real heroes can be found not on comic book covers, but in evening CS skating sessions.
Childhood and ambitions
Oleksandr was born in the small town of Rivne in Ukraine. Since childhood, he dreamed of becoming a professional esports player. His family supported him in everything, and he quickly became a well-known player at the local level. His parents were always there to help him develop and reach new heights.
He started playing video games while still in school, enjoying computer competitions and dreaming of the big stage. His ambitions grew with him, and soon he was known in esports circles as "lucky_cryak". His passion for the game and desire to succeed led him to a professional career in Counter-Strike.
Esports achievements
Oleksandr has achieved significant success in esports, playing for the GUESS mix team, which reached the playoffs of the Ukrainian championships from UPEA and UESF. His talent and perseverance helped him gain recognition among players and fans alike. He always strived to achieve more and dreamed of international competitions.
Sasha is a very good person and a good friend, the last time we saw each other in person was when we were still at school, after that we communicated only online, since then he has clearly matured and become an even better person. I respect his decision - not everyone is capable of doing this at this age.Andrii "npl" Kukharsky, Oleksandr's former teammate and B8 Esports player, in a conversation with a journalist from bo3.gg
He received the nickname "lucky_cryak" thanks to his friend Dima, with whom he played as a child. Dima created a Steam account for him using his nickname, and Alexander left it when he started playing CS seriously. This nickname became part of his esports identity and symbolised his happiness and good luck in the game.
How Oleksandr Romaniuk met the war in Ukraine
When Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Oleksandr was only 17 years old. He had the opportunity to go abroad, leave the country and continue his career in safety, but against his mother's wishes, he decided to stay and help his country.
I expected it to be 24, so I didn't sleep, and at 5 am when it officially started I went to the military registration and enlistment office to join at least the TRO, where I was successfully rejected because of my age and went to the volunteer headquarters.
He joined the local volunteer headquarters, where he was involved in receiving humanitarian aid from abroad and sending it to hot spots.
Decision to join the army
From the very beginning of the war, Oleksandr did not stand aside. At the volunteer headquarters, Mr Romaniuk felt his true mission was to help others. He spent his days at the centre organising deliveries and delivering aid on a 'zero-drop' basis. The then e-sportsman was deeply disturbed by what he saw at the front - he could not accept the fact that while he was playing computer games - even professionally!
Nevertheless, Oleksandr continued to play, hoping to return to his career in esports. Lucky_cryak got into IKLA UA, which was supposed to be a breakthrough point in professional gaming. While still playing in the capital's club, Romaniuk admits that he regretted making the choice in favour of his career. What he saw in the volunteer and a fairly high-speed kick with IKLA UA in mid-July 2023 led to a complete loss of motivation in esports.
"I was burnt out because I was completely devoted to the game, gaming like crazy for 15-20 hours a day, watching demos, FACEIT, workshops, and individual DMs. My conscience was fucking killing me that guys were dying and I was sitting here playing CS," says the former esportsman. Freed from his conscience, Oleksandr Romaniuk made the choice to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
From lucky_cryak to Surgeon
There is no place for "Lucky_Cryak" in war, so Oleksandr took on a new nickname to symbolise his desire to help people and his connection to medicine. Oleksandr chose the call sign "Surgeon" when he decided to join the Armed Forces, as he had always wanted to become a combat medic and had completed the relevant training courses.
The goal is to win, of course, as much as possible. Since childhood I grew up with stories about Cossacks, UPA soldiers and so on, so my nationalist views are probably my motivation. A lot of people write me warm words of gratitude, but I don't understand the meaning of the words "Damn, you're so small, but you joined to protect us" Maybe I'm not like that, but there is a war in the country, people are dying and my duty as a citizen is to protect it and protect my family and friends so that they don't see these fears that unfortunately most Ukrainians see now.
Currently, Oleksandr Romanyuk serves in the Third Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. His experience in the army is different from anything he has ever experienced before. When we asked him to tell us about his first impressions, the former player explained that his military duty required new skills, new discipline and considerable physical training.
It's impossible to compare, at home in the game I was holding my mouse, which weighs 50 grams, and here this beast weighs 4.1 kg with a magazine. And the spray is easier to control in the game!
Although my Counter-Strike skills still came in handy:
First of all, communication came in handy. I developed the skill of giving sharp, short and clear commands. Probably also how to throw a grenade correctly.Recalls with a smile
On the attitude towards and support from the local esports community
When asked by our journalists whether Oleksandr is satisfied with the level of support from the esports community, he admits that he is rather dissatisfied.
"The war should always be talked about, repeated and emphasised. It may not be radical - I know that both Sasha (s1mple) and Valera (b1t) donate to the Ukrainian army, so they are a bit of a good sport.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the international community, Romaniuk does not believe in bans for Russian teams. "Esports is a business, the TOs will not remove Russian teams and ban them from playing, because it burns a lot of money, especially on the Tier 1 stage."
Concluding thoughts
Oleksandr "The Surgeon" Romaniuk is an example of a man who demonstrates true love for his country and willingness to defend it under any circumstances. His decision to join the army indicates a deep understanding of his responsibility to his homeland.
On behalf of the BO3 editorial team, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Oleksandr for his courage and dedication. His act is an example for each of us, showing how important it is to remain true to your values and principles, regardless of the circumstances. In times of war, it is thanks to people like friend Surgeon that we have the opportunity to continue to develop esports, both domestically and internationally.
His example reminds us of the importance of supporting our army and national identity. Each of us can contribute to the fight for the future of Ukraine by supporting our army and glorifying Ukraine in the esports community.
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