Hall of Fame boxers Vitali, Wladimir Klitschko will take up arms for Ukraine

Former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and his brother, fellow boxing Hall of Famer Wladimir Klitschko, are prepared to fight for Ukraine.

Vitali, who is the mayor of Ukraine capital city Kyiv, told ITV’s “Good Morning Russia” on Thursday morning that he is planning to take up arms to help defend against Russia’s invasion.

“It’s already a bloody war,” he said, according to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger. “… I don’t have another choice. I have to do that. I would fight.”

Russia officially invaded Ukraine this week, with Vladimir Putin declaring war against the country. The conflict has been brewing since 2014. Vitali became mayor of Kyiv that year and has been a leading figure in protests against Russia. The 50-year-old’s city and other regions of Ukraine are now in danger of being seized by Russian troops.

Wladimir, who is 45, enlisted in Ukraine’s reserve army in Kyiv earlier this month. He wrote on Linkedin this week that he will fight to defend democracy.

“Now, the Russian president [Vladimir Putin] is using war rhetoric … he makes it clear that he wants to destroy the Ukrainian state and the sovereignty of its people,” Wladimir wrote. “Words are followed by missiles and tanks. Destruction and death come upon us. … We will defend ourselves with all our might and fight for freedom and democracy.”

Vitali was passionate about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine long before he became mayor of Kyiv. He was hit with tear gas during a protest back in 2012.

Photo: October 11, 2010; Hamburg, GERMANY; Vitali Klitschko (UKR) during a press conference for the WBC heavyweight fight against Shannon Briggs (USA), not pictured, at the Interconti Hotel. The fight will be held on October 16 at the O2 World Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via USA TODAY Sports