Two Hall of Fame Boxers Take Up Arms to Defend Ukraine Against Russia

As Russia cuts a swath of destruction through Ukraine, two Hall of Fame athletes are going to give everything they have to fight back. Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir are members of the elite Boxing Hall of…

IJR SyndicatedFeb 25, 20223 min read

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Wladimir Klitschko, a former champion and Olympic gold medalist, enlisted in the

Ukrainian

reserve forces.

“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,” he wrote in a post on LinkedIn.

“It knows that they basically do not want this war. The Ukrainian people have chosen democracy,” he said.

“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.”

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On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the sounds of war were the death knell of freedom for his nation, according to the U.K.’s Guardian.

“What we have heard today are not just missile blasts, fighting, and the rumble of aircraft,” he said.

“This is the sound of a new iron curtain, which has come down and is closing Russia off from the civilized world. Our national task is to make sure this curtain does not fall across our land.”

But amid fears Ukraine might have only days, or even hours, to remain free, Ukrainian fighters vowed to stand up against the Russian invaders.

Zelenskyy related the story of tiny Snake Island in the Black Sea, where Ukraine had posted 13 border guards.

On Thursday, it was approached by a Russian warship.

“This is a Military warship. This is a Russian Military warship. I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed,” a recording has emerged of a Russian officer telling the guards, according to the Guardian.

The reply came shortly after from a Ukrainian officer: “Russian warship, go f*** yourself.”

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“All border guards died heroically but did not give up,” Zelenskyy said.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.