Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that Russian troops were “very close to the capital” and predicted “a difficult night” for the city.
“The situation now is threatening for Kyiv, no exaggeration. The night and the morning will be difficult,” Klitschko said in the address posted on his Telegram channel on Friday.
The mayor, a former heavyweight boxing champion, has garnered international praise for personally taking up arms against Putin and his army of evil.
“Russian troops are very close to the capital. The sabotage groups are neutralizing the military and law enforcement agencies in the city. Bridges are under protection and special control in the capital. Military equipment and soldiers of the Armed Forces are patrolling them,” he said.
He added that Kyiv hospitals were operating in wartime mode and said checkpoints have been installed at the main entrances to the city and near strategic facilities in the capital.
“We are doing this to protect Kyiv,” he said, adding “I thank the people of the city for their willingness to defend the capital and the country, along with other units of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies.”
Respect to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
— Asaad Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) February 24, 2022
Stand for #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Nf9WHDGGdq
Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko defending his country ?? #IStandWithUkraine #SlavaUkraini pic.twitter.com/0cOHOBVIoy
— Natia Seskuria (@nseskuria) February 25, 2022
Former heavyweight boxer and current Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko says he will take up arms against Russian forces:
— The Recount (@therecount) February 24, 2022
“I don’t have another choice, I have to do that.” pic.twitter.com/cwv01Iih2I