Ukraine Sports Stars Joining Fight Against Russia

From world boxing champions to football stars, top Ukrainian sports people are resisting the Russian invasion of their country, with some even returning home to take up arms.

- Boxing brothers -

Even before Russia invaded, former world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, the current mayor of Kyiv, told AFP he was "ready to take up arms".

"I go to a shooting range. I can fire almost any weapon," said the giant of a man, who played a leading role in the 2014 Maidan protests.

The 50-year-old's brother Wladimir, also a former world heavyweight champion, has also volunteered to fight.

- 'I don't want to kill' -

Reigning world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk's thoughts at the beginning of the year were of defending his title in a rematch with Britain's Anthony Joshua -- instead he is now back in Ukraine to defend his family.

Usyk, who returned to the country as soon as the invasion began, said he was "defending my home, my wife, my children, my close ones" in an interview with CNN from the basement of his home in the Kyiv area.

"I don't want to shoot, I don't want to kill," he said, while adding that if he came under attack he would have "no choice" but to respond in kind.

Former world lightweight champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Vasiliy Lomachenko has also returned home to help defend the town of Belgorod-Dnestrovsky near the city of Odessa.

The 34-year-old posted a picture of himself in a military uniform with a rifle slung across his shoulder on his Facebook page.

- War on centre court -

Retired Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky, 36, hopes he doesn't have to open fire while serving with Kyiv's volunteer defenders.

"I know how to use the gun. If I'll have to, I'll have to. I pretty much hope