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Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Vasiliy Lomachenko, one of the world's top pound-for-pound boxers and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, joined a Ukrainian territorial defense battalion to help defend against Russian invaders, he announced. Lomachenko announced the move Sunday on Facebook. Mixed martial arts fighter Yaroslav Amosov, Ballator's welterweight title-holder, also announced Saturday on social media that he will assist in Ukraine's defense against its invading neighbor.
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The moves came days after boxing legends and brothers Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko also announced their intention to assist in the fight.
"Probably, many will think that I ran away, I'm hiding or something like that, but this is not so," Amosov said in an Instagram video. "I took my family to the safe zone. Now I have returned and will defend this country as best I can, with what I can.
"I love this country, our own," Amosov added. "Russia came to our house and started a war here, many people are dying -- innocents, women and children.
"We are in a real war. I cannot understand those people who do not believe that Russian troops entered Ukraine. I see it with my own eyes, I hear it. Terrible things are happening here."
Amosov, 28, is 26-0 and beat Douglas Lima in June to win his welterweight title. He is scheduled to defend that title with a fight against Michal Page on May 13 in London.
Lomachenko, 34, is 16-2 with 11 knockouts. He is a former three-division champion. Lomachenko is expected to fight in June.
