Vitali Klitschko would take up arms: "I have no other choice"
Created: 02/25/2022, 14:27
By: Caroline Schäfer
Russian forces have advanced into the Ukrainian capital.
Kiev's Mayor Vitali Klitschko would even take up arms himself in the fight.
Kiev – Russia* started a war of aggression in Ukraine on Thursday morning (02/24/2022).
Within hours, Russian forces advanced to the Kiev region.
On the night of Friday (February 25th, 2022) several explosions shook the Ukrainian capital.
According to initial estimates by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), 100,000 people are already fleeing in Ukraine*.
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko had already called on residents on Thursday evening to seek shelter in subway stations.
The former professional boxer does not want to be seen doing nothing.
In a fight against the Russian forces, Klitschko would take up arms himself.
"I do not have another choice.
I have to do this," the UDAR politician told ITV's Good Morning Britain.
Vitaly Klitschko | |
|---|---|
date and place of birth | July 19, 1971 in Belovodsk |
Mayor of Kiev | Since May 25, 2014 |
Vitali Klitschko on the war in Ukraine: "It really hurts"
"It hurts.
It really hurts," said the former heavyweight world champion, referring to the situation in his home country.
"We face one of the largest and strongest armies in the world, but we have to defend our families, our country, our cities," Klitschko added on the TV show.
About two weeks ago, Vitali Klitschko was determined in a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP) with a view to the Ukraine conflict*.
He was ready to “take up arms and fight.
And I say that very clearly.”
Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kiev.
© Sergei Supinsky/AFP
War in Ukraine: Vitali Klitschko calls for tough sanctions against Russia
“The Russians have to pay for all this.
They destroyed the international rules.
Ukraine has always been a peaceful country,” Klitschko is quoted as saying by ntv.de.
The mayor called for tough sanctions against Russia.
At a special summit on Thursday evening, the EU heads of state and government approved a package of sanctions against Russia.
The sanctions relate, among other things, to the financial and transport sectors.
The first skirmishes have already broken out in the northern parts of the Ukrainian capital.
According to the Defense Ministry, 18,000 rifles and ammunition have now been distributed to the population.
As confirmed by the Ukrainian President Selenskyi, there are said to have been fatalities in the heavy fighting with the Russian army.
Klitschko is convinced that he can hold the capital.
"I believe in Ukraine, I believe in my country, I believe in my people," he said on the TV show.
War of aggression on Ukraine: Klitschko brothers with calls for help
Vitali Klitschko published a video on social media with his younger brother on Thursday.
In it, the Klitschko brothers formulated a call for help to Europe and called for action.
"I call on all our international partners to watch the tragedy that is happening in Ukraine.
The war is pointless.
It will not produce any winners, only losers," warned Wladimir Klitschko.
The war in the Ukraine also caused disbelief among the people from the Kassel* region.
Some are in contact with those affected and described the situation from their perspective.
(kas with dpa)
*hna.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
