Oleksandr Usyk - players.bio

Novak Djokovic offers Sergiy Stakhovsky support over war in Ukraine

Novak Djokovic has pledged financial support to Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky, who has joined the fight to protect his country from the Russian invasion. Stakhovsky, who famously beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2013, last week said he had signed up for Ukraine's military reserves.

Having a family stopped Ukraine football star Zinchenko returning to fight

Zinchenko says he has cried constantly since Russia invaded Ukraine and the Manchester City star told the BBC he would have returned like other sports stars have done to fight had it not been for having a family. The 25-year-old added his compatriots would not "give up" in resisting the invasion and criticised Russian footballers for failing to speak out against the war. Several past and present Ukrainian sporting luminaries have returned to Ukraine to take up arms, including world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and football manager Yuriy Vernydub.

"I'm Ready": Sheriff Tiraspol Coach Yuriy Vernydub Goes Home To Ukraine To Fight

Sheriff Tiraspol coach Yuriy Vernydub pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history by beating Real Madrid -- months later he is shouldering arms in defence of his native Ukraine against the Russian invasion. The 56-year-old told the BBC he did not hesitate in returning home once his son informed him last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had launched military action. "My son called me at 4:30am and he told me the Russians attacked us. I knew then that I would return to Ukraine to fight," he said.