Once considered an underground movement, esports in Ukraine has evolved into a rapidly growing industry. Maksym Krippa, owner of the NAVI esports organization and president of the Ukrainian Esports Federation (UESF), stands at the forefront of this transformation. Speaking with Forbes Ukraine, Krippa highlighted the sector’s impressive rise and its trajectory toward mainstream recognition.

According to investor Maksym Krippa, esports in Ukraine traces its roots back to the late 1990s. For years, it remained a niche subculture. However, over the past two decades — especially after 2020 — the landscape has changed dramatically. With government recognition in 2020 officially granting esports the status of a legitimate sport, the industry began to gain serious momentum. By 2022, Krippa noted, the domestic market had already surpassed tens of millions of dollars in value, confirming its arrival as a significant economic and cultural force.

“Fifteen or twenty years ago, esports in Ukraine lived in the shadows,” Krippa stated. “Now it’s a visible part of youth culture and the broader sports ecosystem. Ukrainian players compete and win on international stages. Can we really call it underground when the industry already had a multimillion-dollar market before 2022?”

Krippa pointed to several landmark moments that defined Ukraine’s journey in esports:

• 2009: Team A-Gaming, featuring players like Andrii Horodenskyi and Oleksii Kucheriov, claimed third place at the Samsung World Cyber Games.
• 2011: NAVI’s Dota 2 team made history by winning The International, one of the world’s most prestigious esports tournaments.
• 2017: Ukraine welcomed top-tier competition by co-hosting The Kiev Major 3 with PGL.
• 2020: Esports was officially recognized as a sport at the national level.
• 2021: Ukraine launched its first national esports championship and officially designated UESF as the national federation.

In February 2025, Krippa assumed the role of UESF president with a clear mission: to expand the reach of esports beyond professional teams and tournaments. His strategy includes building infrastructure for competitive gaming in educational institutions, creating opportunities for veterans and underrepresented groups through inclusive esports platforms, and fostering public awareness of esports as both a form of entertainment and a viable professional path.

Krippa’s vision positions esports not just as a game, but as a dynamic industry capable of influencing education, technology, and community development across Ukraine.