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Ukrainian sportsmen Vasyl Lomachenko and Sergiy Stakhovsky have pledged their allegiance to their country's military efforts as Russia continues its invasion.
Tennis star Sergiy Stakhovsky, who defeated Roger Federer in the 2nd round of Wimbledon in 2013, has said that he is hopeful he will not have to use the gun he has been given as his country looks to repel Russia's attack.
Stakhovsky said: "I know how to use the gun. If I'll have to, I'll have to".
The 36-year-old retired from tennis in January after the Australian Open and has now made a return to Kyiv to help bolster his country's resistance.
Boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko, a three-weight champion, is another sport star who has joined Ukraine's war efforts.
The pair appear to have followed heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who is also thought to have signed up.
Men between the ages of 18-60 have been told to stay in the country and fight by the Ukrainian government as they look to slow attacks made by Russia.
Stakhovsky told BBC that leaving his London base and his family to join the war efforts was a "horrible" decision to make.
"I'm still not sure how I've done it. I know that it's extremely hard on my wife. My kids don't know that I'm here," he said.
"They don't understand war. They're too little to understand what's going on".
Sporting bodies across the world have imposed tranches of measures on Russian sporting athletes.
Russia has been further isolated from top-level international sport after its athletes were banned from World Athletics events “for the foreseeable future”.
All athletes, support personnel and officials from Russia and Belarus – which is assisting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – are barred from World Athletics Series events including this summer’s World Championships in Eugene.
Track and field follows football in issuing a ban, with FIFA and UEFA announcing on Monday that all Russian national teams and clubs would be indefinitely barred from their competitions.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said: “The world is horrified by what Russia has done, aided and abetted by Belarus.
“World leaders sought to avoid this invasion through diplomatic means but to no avail given Russia’s unswerving intention to invade Ukraine.
“The unprecedented sanctions that are being imposed on Russia and Belarus by countries and industries all over the world appear to be the only peaceful way to disrupt and disable Russia’s current intentions and restore peace.
“Anyone who knows me will understand that imposing sanctions on athletes because of the actions of their government goes against the grain.
“I have railed against the practice of politicians targeting athletes and sport to make political points when other sectors continue about their business.
“This is different as governments, business and other international organisations have imposed sanctions and measures against Russia across all sectors. Sport has to step up and join these efforts to end this war and restore peace. We cannot and should not sit this one out".