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Vasiliy Lomachenko has become the latest Ukrainian boxing star to take up arms in the defence of his country.
A former three-weight world champion, Lomachenko is viewed as one of the best boxers on the planet pound for pound.
The 34-year-old returned to Ukraine this week following Russia’s invasion of the country, and has now announced that he has joined the 'territorial defence battalion' for his hometown of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi.
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A photo was posted on Lomachenko's official Facebook page which showed him dressed in military clothing with an assault rifle strapped to his body.
The post included the caption: “The Belgorod-Dnestrovsky Territorial Defence Battalion has been formed and armed.
“In the territorial defence, boxer Vasily Lomachenko informed the mayor Vitaly Grazhdan.”
World heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk also returned to Ukraine this week to help defend his homeland.
Meanwhile, former heavyweight champions Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko have also vowed to take up arms in the war.
In a video posted on Instagram, Wladimir called on “the entire world” to stop Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
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“I'm Wladimir Klitschko, and I'm addressing the entire world to stop this war that Russia has started,” said Klitschko.
“Just today, civilians were shot by the rockets, with special operations, civilians getting killed. And it's happening in the heart of Europe.
“There is no time to wait because that's going to lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.
“You need to act now to stop Russian aggression with anything you can have now. In an hour, or tomorrow, is going to be too late.
“Please, get into action now. Don't wait. Act now. Stop this war.”
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His brother Vitali, who is mayor of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, says he fears of a “humanitarian crisis” in the country following Russia’s invasion.
“The Russians are almost on the border of Kyiv. From here, it’s not so far, I guess it’s 20km [12 miles] or less,” he said on Sunday.
“Russians destroyed the economy of our country.
“I expect a huge humanitarian catastrophe in our country because our economy was destroyed.
“Our infrastructure was destroyed. The people don’t have a job, don’t have money. People don’t have a home right now.
“Millions of people moved from their houses. They destroyed the country.”
Featured Image Credit: PA Images & Facebook: Vasiliy Lomachenko
Topics: Vasyl Lomachenko, Boxing
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