Two former boxing world champions have joined the biggest fight of their lives. They are Vitali Klitschko, 50, and his brother Wladimir, 45. Both are Ukrainian, and they have vowed to take up arms to help defend their capital Kyiv. Vitali is currently the city's mayor. He retired from boxing in 2013, having been heavyweight champion for a decade. He said: "I don't have another choice.…I'll be fighting. It's already a bloody war." Wladimir tweeted: "Destruction and death come upon us.…We will defend ourselves with all our might and fight for freedom and democracy."

The boxing siblings have joined their fellow citizens in defending their city. Authorities have already given 18,000 rifles to residents to defend themselves. There are also images on social media of people learning to make Molotov cocktails. The two brothers have critisised Russia's President Putin and are aware of the danger they face. Yahoo Sports wrote: "There is an immense amount of bravery required to slip between the ropes and fight another man who has trained for months to defeat you. That's child's play compared to the fight the Klitschkos face today."