Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko vow to fight for Ukraine after Russia's invasion

Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko are prepared to take up arms in what has been labelled as a 'bloody war' following Ukraine's invasion of their homeland Ukraine.

Russia started its invasion by land, air and sea on Thursday after President Vladimir Putin declared war. Dozens have been killed from explosions while an estimated 100,000 have fled the country.

Vitali Klitschko - the mayor of Kyiv - has revealed he is ready to fight alongside fellow brother and former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.

"I don't have another choice, I have to do that. I'll be fighting," the 50-year-old said.

"I believe in Ukraine, I believe in my country and I believe in my people," Vitali Klitschko added.

"The Ukrainian people are strong. And it will remain true to itself in this terrible ordeal. A people longing for sovereignty and peace. A people who consider the Russian people their brothers," Wladimir Klitschko wrote in a post on LinkedIn on Thursday.

"It knows that they basically do not want this war. The Ukrainian people have chosen democracy.

"But: Democracy is a fragile regime. Democracy cannot defend itself; it needs the will of the citizens, the commitment of everyone. Basically, there is no democracy without democrats."

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