Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated professional boxer Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine) on his victory over Briton Tyson Fury and the defense of the world heavyweight champion belts of the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).
"Victory! So important and so necessary for all of us now," Zelensky wrote on the Telegram social platform.
"Usyk's defense of the world titles shows that Ukrainians have not betrayed what is theirs," he added against the backdrop of the ongoing Russian invasion of the country, dpa agency reports.
Vitali Klitschko, a former heavyweight champion like Oleksandr Usyk and current mayor of Kiev, also congratulated his compatriot on the "worthy and brilliant victory".
Klitschko described the fight as one of the most spectacular revenge fights in the history of boxing and, like Zelensky, emphasized the general significance of Usyk's success.
"Today's victory is not only personal for you - it is a victory for Ukraine," he wrote.