A captured Russian soldier has shared the moment he realised he was '100 percent wrong' about Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Watch him explain below:
When boxers the solider admired - World Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk and former champ Vasyl Lomachenko - enlisted to defend Ukraine, he started to question the invasion.
After Ukraine officials released a video of the soldier online, he explains: "Literally I'm 100 percent wrong now. Don't judge too harshly.
Advert
"We were told Ukraine is dominated by fascists... Nazis had seized power. We did not know the situation for sure.
"When we entered this territory I watched the address of your boxers (Olexander Usyk and Vasily Lomachenko). Back home I always loved watching them.
"They said 'we didn't call you here'. I feel shame that we came to this country."
Usyk is supposed to be training for a rematch versus Anthony Joshua, however, yesterday (6 March) he was in a bomb shelter in Kyiv while the city is under attack.
Advert
He told CNN on Wednesday (2 March): "What do you mean why?
“It is my duty to fight, to defend my home, my family.”
Usyk also revealed that he would kill if pushed to do so.
He added: "If they will want to take my life, or the lives of my close ones, I will have to do it.
"But I don't want that. I don't want to shoot, I don't want to kill anybody, but if they will be killing me, I will have no choice."
Advert
Other fighters have also signed up to fight against the Russian army.
Three-division champion Vasyl Lomachenko was pictured shouldering an M16 assault rifle.
After sharing the image on social media, the 34-year-old said: "The Bilgorod-Dnistrovsky Battalion of Territorial Defense is formed and armed."
Boxing icons Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko who have reportedly joined the fight, released a video, with Wladimir saying: "I’m calling to all international partners to observe this tragedy that is happening nowadays in Ukraine and this senseless war which is not going to have any winners or losers.
Advert
"I just want to tell you we must stay united against this aggression, this Russian aggression.
"Don’t let it continue happening in Ukraine, don’t let it happen in Europe and eventually in the world.
"United we’re strong. Support Ukraine, thank you."
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
Anish Vij