Usyk at a summit in the USA: For many years, Russia has been trying to destroy the Ukrainian language, history, and people

The athlete also expressed his position on the impossibility of any territorial concessions to the aggressor country.

Фото: x.com/MargoMartin47

13 June, 16:36

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk admitted that he was influenced by propaganda for many years and only later realized that language is identity and a weapon. The athlete stated during his speech at a summit in the United States of America.

Oleksandr Usyk's statements about language and freedom of speech

During his speech, Usyk detailed his experience of realizing the importance of the language issue and spoke about the long-term impact of information pressure.

«I lived in propaganda for many years, and it played with me. I am a person who spoke Russian for most of my life, finished school in Ukrainian, and gave interviews exclusively in Ukrainian after competitions. When asked why I spoke Russian and not Ukrainian, I thought: 'What's the difference, we understand each other?'» the boxer shared.

He emphasized to those present at the summit in the USA that Russia has been trying to destroy the Ukrainian language, history, and people for many years.

«Anyone with brains understands that we have been fighting for our independence all our lives, why can't we live the way we want? [...] Russia is so huge and does such things - it seems to me it's just envy», the athlete noted.

In addition, Oleksandr Usyk denied claims about alleged suppression of freedom of speech in Ukraine. He noted that the situation is completely the opposite, adding: 'Ukraine is one of those countries where freedom of speech is at its fullest.'

Position on occupied territories and the story of the house being looted

The athlete also expressed his position on the impossibility of any territorial concessions to the aggressor country. According to him, it is "impossible" to simply give the occupied territories to Russia. The boxer compared this scenario to a hypothetical situation where Russia took Alaska from the USA.

Usyk told the American audience about his personal experience encountering the actions of Russian occupiers who occupied his private residence in the Kyiv region. It concerns a small house he bought during the COVID-19 pandemic to live with his children in the suburbs of the capital - in the Bucha, Vorzel, and Irpin area, which suffered the most destruction.

«And these guys lived in my house for several weeks, doing whatever they wanted. When the Ukrainian army drove them out, a group of people checked if there were any explosives left. They knew whose house it was, and they left two booby traps there. They simply shelled the house, destroyed everything that was there, stole personal belongings, and left. When we entered, there was so much dirt there. They stole women's underwear. In my opinion, these guys have inhuman instincts – to kill, to rob», Usyk reported.

The athlete added that he had changed his place of residence many times in his life. He was born in Crimea, moved to Chernihiv after the collapse of the USSR, and later his family returned to the peninsula. Due to the beginning of the Russian occupation of Crimea, Usyk was forced to move his family to Kyiv.