‘We have no choice but to win’ – Olena Kolesnyk vows to bring victory back to Ukraine alongside Oleksandr Usyk against backdrop of war

Olena Kolesnyk was given 15 minutes to flee her home in Kyiv as the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February.

‘I looked out my window and I could see people running away with their children, their suitcases, everything,’ she recalled. ‘I saw the tanks rolling into the city.’

After escaping, she resisted the urge to pick up a gun and fight after a heart-wrenching conversation with her mother. Instead, the 32-year-old promised to serve her country by continuing on her path to MMA glory.

On the same night Oleksandr Usyk defends his world titles against Anthony Joshua, Kolesnyk will enter the cage draped in the Ukrainian flag in London on Saturday as she seeks to book her place in the Professional Fighters League final.

The prize at the end of her journey this year is world championship belt and a cheque for $1million. But ensuring the pride and bravery of the Ukrainian people is recognised is the only goal she is focused on.

On 24 February, Russia began its devastating assault on its neighbouring country. The day before, Kolesnyk went to bed expecting to wake up the next morning and begin training as per her usual routine. Instead, she woke up to a living nightmare.

‘I woke up to a call from one of my friends from my hometown of Odessa, telling me a war had started,’ Kolesnyk told Metro.co.uk. ‘I was in a deep sleep, it was like four or five in the morning, it was still dark outside. Then I heard the noises and saw people running.

‘My friend told me to leave all my stuff behind. “You have 15 minutes, just take your documents and run to the underground. I will get you in a car and take you to your home. Kyiv is in trouble.”’

As attacks began across the country, stars of Ukrainian sport returned to defend their homeland. Five