How long will world watch as Russia kills innocents, asks Ukrainian boxing champ-turned-soldier | Exclusive
India Today
Wladimir Klitschko, a Ukrainian boxing legend who has now chosen to take up arms and defend his country against the Russian invasion, spoke exclusively to India Today. Read excerpts of the interview here.
In response to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appeal, several civilians have taken up arms to defend the nation against the Russian invasion. Among them is boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko, who has held the world heavyweight championship in the past.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, he appealed to the world to do what it can to stop the Russian invasion. He said, "How long will the world watch and not stop Russia? It has been 24 days. We've been fighting back. But the world needs to actively stop the war and get them [Russians] to get the heck out of our land. It is dangerous for the whole world. Other nations are in danger. This senseless war is just the ambition of one mad man in Moscow."
Once boxing longest reigning champion, now in #Ukraine to fight and defend.. ‘Heavyweight’ Wladimir Klitschko (@Klitschko) speaks to India Today's @Shivaroor |#ITLivestream | #IndiaTodayExclusive #UkraineRussiaWarhttps://t.co/fNunBs2Z06
He described that residents had been killed, cities had been turned to ashes and infrastructure destroyed through bombing. Wladimir Klitschko said that the Russian claim that only military objects were being targeted was lies. "Everything coming out of Russia is a lie. It's all propaganda. Russia is lying to its own people. Russian soldiers don't know why they're fighting this war," he said.
When asked about Nato and the US' rejection of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's request for a no-fly zone over Ukrainian territory, the famous boxer told India Today, "We will take care of ourselves. But we need military aid and equipment to defend ourselves. Our allies need to sanction Russia because every cent they get is being used to buy more weapons to kill our people. We will create our own no-fly zone and protect our skies. We have enough manpower."
