Russia’s large-scale invasion in opposition to Ukraine has prompted a number of high-profile athletes of Ukrainian descent to take up arms.
Certainly, a number of notable fighters from Ukrainian — champions present and former in boxing and blended martial arts — have joined protection battalions to assist defend in opposition to Russian invasion.
MORE: Klitschko brothers Vitali and Wladimir ‘united in opposition to aggression’ in Russia-Ukraine battle
Beneath are the fighters reported to have stayed in — or returned to — Ukraine to assist in its protection:
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Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko
The previous heavyweight champions on Thursday launched a joint video assertion Ukrainian, Russian and English interesting for worldwide companions and observers to face united in opposition to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Vitali Klitschko — the mayor of Ukraine’s capital metropolis Kyiv — introduced he would take up arms to defend in opposition to the invasion within the assertion. Wladimir Klitschko additionally enlisted in Ukraine’s reserve military earlier within the month in anticipation of a Russian invasion.
Later within the day, Vitali Klitschko advised “Good Morning Britain” that he was ready to struggle in what’s “already a bloody struggle.”
GMB EXCLUSIVE:
‘I haven’t got one other alternative. I’ve to try this.’
The Mayor of Kyiv @Vitaliy_Klychko tells @richardgaisford that it’s ‘already a bloody struggle’ and he’s ready to struggle for his nation. pic.twitter.com/KvoGP5f92C
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 24, 2022
Vasiliy Lomachenko
Lomachenko, a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, was proven on Sunday sporting army fatigues and carrying weapons in preparation to defend Ukraine. The previous three-division world champion (featherweight, junior light-weight and light-weight), was born in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi in southwestern Ukraine.
The submit, uploaded in Ukrainian, roughly interprets to, “The Belgorod-Dniester Territorial Protection Battalion has been fashioned and armed. Boxer Vasyl Lomachenko is within the protection, mentioned Mayor Vitaliy Hrazhdan” (through Google Translate).
Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk, who on Sept. 25, 2021 wrested the WBA (Tremendous), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles from Anthony Joshua through unanimous resolution, has returned to his residence nation.
The heavyweight champion was born in Simferopol within the Crimean Peninsula to folks initially from northern Ukraine. On Friday he posted a video saying his return to Ukraine and refuting stories that he had “run away.” He spoke in Ukrainian however the caption of his video learn, in English, “NO WAR.”
“Some wrote to me that I ran away. I didn’t, I used to be at work however I’m again, I’m residence,” he mentioned.
“Pals, we now have to unite as a result of it’s a tough time proper now and I’m actually emotional and fear about my nation, and our individuals.”
Usyk posted one other video on Saturday talking on to the Russian individuals and Russian President Vladimir Putin:
“Good morning to all people. My identify is Oleksandr Usyk. I’d like to talk to the individuals of Russia. If we take into account ourselves as brothers, orthodox ones. Don’t let your kids to got down to our nation, don’t struggle with us. Additionally I’m addressing this to the president Vladimir Putin. You may cease this struggle. Please simply sit down and negotiate it with us with out claims.
“Our children, wives, grannies are hiding within the basements… We’re right here in our personal nation, we can not do it different manner – we’re defending. … Cease it! Cease this struggle.”
MORE: Russia boycott: Full listing of nations refusing to play nationwide staff after Ukraine invasion
Yaroslav Amosov
Amosov, present welterweight title-holder in Bellator who was born in Irpin, Ukraine, introduced in a Saturday Instagram video that he would keep and “defend this nation as finest I can” in opposition to Russia.
The 28-year-old, who’s 26-0 as knowledgeable, spoke in Ukrainian within the video. Per ESPN — which reportedly had Amosov’s translator affirm what the fighter was saying — Amosov denied rumors that he had fled the nation. He confirmed that he took his household to a “secure zone” however then returned to defend in opposition to Russian invasion.
“In all probability, many will suppose that I ran away, I am hiding or one thing like that, however this isn’t so,” Amosov mentioned within the video. “I took my household to the secure zone. Now I’ve returned and can defend this nation as finest I can, with what I can. I like this nation, our personal. Russia got here to our home and began a struggle right here, many individuals are dying — innocents, ladies and kids.
“We’re in an actual struggle. I can not perceive these individuals who don’t imagine that Russian troops entered Ukraine. I see it with my very own eyes, I hear it. Horrible issues are occurring right here.”