keoz accuses kONO of “pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit” in unpaid salary row; kONO CEO responds

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 19/01/2026

BLAST Paris Major 2023 Grand Finalist, Nicolas ‘Keoz’ Dgus, has accused Ukrainian esports organisation, kONO.ECF of “pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit” as a result of the fallout in the player’s attempt to be paid his salary.

The organisation was co-founded and co-owned by former Ukrainian international footballer, Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Keoz takes legal action over unpaid salary

Keoz took to social media to announce his grievance with the organisation, detailing his alleged experience in attempting to retrieve his salary, stating:

“KONO has breached my contract. Organisation of Ukrainian football player @kono10official [Yevhen Konoplyanka] have not paid my guaranteed salary for December, despite a valid obligation to pay no later than the X day of each month.

I am asking for nothing more than the minimum salary guaranteed by the contract.

Instead of payment, I received pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit me.”

The player later added that the pressure, threats, and attempts to discredit included accusations of match-fixing, where the player was asked to take a polygraph test.

Keoz stated, “These accusations appeared only after the organization breached the contract.”

Keoz stated that he had attempted to retrieve his salary on multiple occasions, stating that kONO’s roster was inactive in December as “the organisation decided not to use the roster,” arguing that the move does not contractually represent a ‘benching’, which typically reduces salaries.

The Belgian went on to confirm that he was taking legal action against the org, stating, “Unpaid guaranteed salary, pressure, and defamation leave no other option than to speak publicly as I’ve made kONO aware of this choice and gave them a Formal Legal Demand earlier.”

Esports News UK has reached out to the organisation for comment, but has yet to receive a reply.

Who is kONO?

kONO is a Ukrainian organisation founded and owned by Oleg ‘Walkman’ Shustenko and Ukrainian international, Yevhen Konoplyanka, after whom the organisation is named.

Keoz joined kONO in August of last year, following a transfer from a short-term deal with British organisation, The Last Resort, following the roster’s 7th-8th place finish at EPIC.LAN 45.

The Belgian joined the organisation alongside the still-active members of the team, Thomas ‘birdfromsky’ Due Frederiksen and Johannes ‘b0RUP’ Borup.

The TLR core joined Ukrainian AWPer, Denys ‘Burmylov’ Buraha, in the organisation.

The roster climbed to #67 in the VRS rankings in October, but later plateaued before falling to its current rank of #116 after that inactive December period.

Regardless of the spat, the team is still representing the organisation, defeating rottweilers 2-0 in the CCT S3 EU Series 14 Closed Qualifier today in their first HLTV match since November.

Update: kONO co-owner responds to accusations

Oleg ‘Walkman’ Shustenko, kONO’s CEO and co-owner, used kONO’s X account to address the accusations. The org owner stated that changes to the roster were incoming, but unannounced.

The kONO CEO denies any wrongdoing regarding payments, stating, “The organization has always fulfilled and continues to fulfil all of its obligations to employees and players — both formally under contracts and within the scope of additional agreements. This is a fundamental principle that has never been violated.”

Shustenko claimed that Keoz had debt with the organisation, stating that “at the initiative of the player himself, an option was agreed whereby the full salary payment would be made, taking into account mutual settlements,” adding, “The point was that the organization has no interest in unlawfully withholding funds; however, debt obligations remain debt obligations.”

The kONO CEO continued, “Regarding roster usage: Claims that the organization deliberately ‘did not use the roster’ or ‘punished’ players are illogical. The team has no motivation to keep a roster inactive while simultaneously bearing financial costs without any sporting rationale.”

The organisation also claimed that the integrity concern arose from “information received,” which initiated “an integrity view in accordance with the Clause,” presumably an integrity clause in the player’s contract. The org added, “This is a standard preventive procedure, not a form of accusation.”

The statement ends by reiterating that “All obligations have always been fulfilled toward everyone. However, when someone attempts to ‘exploit loopholes’ or issue ultimatums, this is unacceptable, and it must be understood that such actions may receive a response.”

The org stated that they will not be responding to any further messages from the players regarding the situation.

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.

All Posts By Darragh Harbinson