The question of bravery among athletes comes up often in our activism-obsessed sports landscape. In Ukraine, that bravery takes on a different meaning.

Oleksandr Usyk, the heavyweight champion whom many consider one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, has joined the Kyiv territorial defense battalion. Usyk is supposed to rematch former champion Anthony Joshua this summer, which could set the stage for an undisputed heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury later in the year. Instead, he has taken up arms.