Former boxer Wladimir Klitschko and his brother Vitali, a former heavyweight champion and current mayor of Kiev, joined the Ukrainian army reservists to fight against the large-scale invasion that Russia launched against his country.
In a video broadcast on social networks, the two urged all their compatriots to do the same, “for lack of other options” to protect the future of democracy and freedom.
Wladimir has a greater international projection, due both to his triumphs in the ring and to the sentimental relationship he had with the famous actress Hayden Panettiere, with whom he has a 7-year-old daughter.
“The Russian president is using the rhetoric of war in the purest Bolshevik tradition, and is rewriting history to justify a redivision of borders”, explained Wladimir, of 45 years, on their social networks.
In this sense, he added: “It has become clear that he wants to destroy the Ukrainian state and end the sovereignty of his people. The words are followed by missiles and tanks. Destruction and death hang over us. That’s it, the blood will be mixed with tears.”
Vitali, his older brother, put aside his sports career to start another in the world of politics, which led him to become, first, a member of parliament in his country and, later, mayor of the capital.