When Russia initially invaded the Ukraine it created so many questions , fear and angst . Even within the paintball community the internet was lit up with accusations against Russian players and their allegiance to Russia . The league asked the Russian Legion to change its name , and rightfully so . There are players that couldn ’ t get out of Russia to play in both the American and European paintball events . Many of the NXL ’ s Russian players on the Red Legion roster got here and simple stayed here . In 2023 many of them worked at Tiki ’ s Paintball in Florida , running clinics and other paintball events there . The inability to travel home and back often enough to compete on the circuit has forced tough decisions on the players … stay in Russia and not play paintball in 2022-2023 , or try to make a new home in the U . S ., and that ’ s what many of them did and they are still here today .
In addition to player logistics , one of Russia ’ s two premiere paint manufacturers no longer is in the paintmaking business , leaving only one major producer in Russia and a few smaller plants in Eastern Europe . When the war began raw materials were in very short supply , then when they became available again everyone overproduced paintballs . Now it ’ s all about moving product in Europe and it ’ s definitely not quality over quantity . As one person in the know put it , “ there ’ s a race to see who can make the worst quality ball right now .”
0104 paintball . media magazine