Kyiv’s battling mayor Vitali Klitschko has praised the Mirror for giving the Ukrainian people its Pride of Britain Spirit of Freedom award.
The former world heavyweight boxing champ said it showed his nation is “not alone”.
In a powerful video sent shortly before the awards went out on ITV last night, Klitschko told the judges: “It’s very important for our home town and for every citizen to understand we are not alone.”
Speaking just hours after Russian missiles again hit key sites in the capital, he praised Ukraine’s friends for their humanitarian and economic support.
But he insisted: “It’s also very important to receive defensive weapons. Because we defend our homes, we defend our families and we defend our children’s future.
“We are fighting for the same values as you, democratic values, human rights, press freedom.”
Wearing a military jacket with the blue-and-yellow national flag behind him, the mayor ended his video with a thumbs-up and the plea: “Please, stay with Ukraine!”
His remarks came after President Volodymir Zelensky recorded a defiant message to Pride of Britain.
He said: “Unfortunately I cannot be with you as I have urgent matters connected to the war.
“Freedom is never free and we are paying a huge price. But we are grateful to our British friends for helping to carry the burden.
“And I’m truly delighted the people of Ukraine are being recognised in this Pride of Britain award.”
The situation in Ukraine is worsening as winter takes hold.
Klitschko later explained in a WhatsApp text: "We’re in a quite critical situation with electricity."
Vitali and his equally famous younger brother Wladimir, also a World Heavyweight Boxing champion, work closely together to build up newly-trained forces around the capital city -- and to keep the embattled city working as close as possible to normality.
Russian tanks got within ten miles of Kyiv in the early stages of the war, before being driven back by fierce resistance and by Russian military blundering.
Putin has hinted he will be back in even greater force one day, but is now focused on deadly drone and missile attacks, and on holding on to territory the Russians illegally captured in the south and East.
Ukraine still holds about four fifths of its territory.
Klitschko's remarks came a day after President Volodymir Zelensky himself provided a defiant message to Pride of Britain with TSB and The Mirror.
Mr Zelensky said: "Hello everybody. Kyiv calling. Unfortunately I cannot be with you today even by video. I have to deal with urgent matters connected to the war.
"Freedom is never free, and we are paying a huge price for it. But let me tell you, we are grateful to our British friends for helping to carry the burden.
"And I'm truly delighted that the people of Ukraine are being recognised in this Pride of Britain Award. This sort of encouragement and recognition makes us more convinced that we are not alone in our struggle.
"That we are acting on behalf of the civilised nations in battling the world's most dangerous warmongers. Thank you, Pride of Britain."
