Oleksandr Usyk is amplifying his efforts to raise awareness about the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russia invaded the undisputed heavyweight world champion’s homeland in February 2022. Initially, Usyk joined Kyiv’s territorial defense force, but he later left to represent Ukraine internationally through his boxing career.

In his latest triumph, Usyk achieved legendary status by defeating Tyson Fury, crowning himself the undisputed heavyweight king.

Now, Usyk has returned to Ukraine and traveled to Irpin, a city on the outskirts of Kyiv devastated by the conflict.

Usyk has previously helped UNITED24 raise £224,000, contributing £150,000 himself, to rebuild a house on 14-H Lysenka Street. A press release from UNITED24 explained: “Thanks to Usyk, 40 families were able to return to their homes.”

The undisputed champion met with one such family. Diana, along with her husband and children, fled Irpin at the beginning of March 2022. The next day, an enemy shell hit their house, engulfing the fifth floor in flames and reducing their apartment to charred walls. The family dreamed of returning home, and now their dream has become a reality.

The building caught Usyk’s attention primarily because it housed a gym where his acquaintance Oleksii Dzhunkivskyi used to teach young children how to box. Dzhunkivskyi stayed in Irpin and was killed by Russian soldiers. Usyk visited a boxing session in the newly reconstructed gym and also paid a visit to Anastasia Dzhunkivskyi, who is continuing her late husband’s work.

Usyk said: “I decided to purchase all the necessary sports equipment so that the children can train in comfortable conditions. Although Oleksii is no longer with us, boxing will continue to exist in the gym he founded. The children will keep training, and perhaps one of them will become a new world champion.”

After this, Usyk and his wife Kateryna visited the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, which was hit by a missile on July 8. They met staff and children undergoing treatment, with Usyk even giving some boxing tips to a couple of them.

“The world needs to see the grief and massive destruction that Russia is causing to our country,” Usyk said. “But the world also needs to see the unity and solidarity of the Ukrainian people, which is inspiring. Over 300 people were injured at Okhmatdyt. I wish everyone a speedy recovery