Former world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has said he will follow his brother and take up arms to defend Ukraine from Russian forces.
Vitali Klitschko, famous for his dramatic fight with the UK's Lennon Lewis, has said that he is now ready to follow his famous brother Wladimir, the Mayor of Ukraine, and join Ukraine’s reserve army.
Putin's troops are on the outskirts of the capital following their invasion during the early hours of Thursday.
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Fierce fighting is now underway on the streets of Kyiv after Russian special forces penetrated the city - with the army reportedly in control of a crucial nearby airfield.
Putin's troops are on the outskirts of the capital following their invasion during the early hours of Thursday.
Kyiv residents have been urged to make petrol bombs and take up arms against the invading forces.
Klitschko and his brother Wladimir were two of the most dominant heavyweights in boxing of recent times, with their years of success often referred to as the 'Klitschko era'.
Vitali Klitschko, who has been the Mayor of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, since 2014, said he was ready to fight to defend his country.
Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain Vitali said: "I don’t have another choice, I have to do that. I’ll be fighting.
“I believe in Ukraine, I believe in my country and I believe in my people."
Wladimir Klitschko enlisted in Ukraine’s reserve army earlier this month.
In a post on social media he said: "The Ukrainian people are strong. And it will remain true to itself in this terrible ordeal.
"A people longing for sovereignty and peace. A people who consider the Russian people their brothers.
“It knows that they basically do not want this war. The Ukrainian people have chosen democracy.
“But democracy is a fragile regime. Democracy cannot defend itself; it needs the will of the citizens, the commitment of everyone. Basically, there is no democracy without democrats.”
Vitali is the only heavyweight in history to win world titles in three different decades, defending his WBC title nine times before retiring at the age of 41.
Wladimir went unbeaten for 11 years winning over 20 consecutive fights during that run, but retired from the sport in 2017 after back-to-back losses against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
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