Bellator champ Yaroslav Amosov staying in Ukraine to defend home against Russian attack

Yaroslav Amosov is staying in Ukraine to defend his home.

In a Saturday night video, the Bellator champion at welterweight explained that he had evacuated his family from a “safe area” and plans to return to Ukraine as Russia’s conflict escalates.

The 28-year-old Amosov (26-0) hails from the Ukrainian city of Irpin, a region located close to the capital city of Kiev. There were reports heavy fire near Irpin on Sunday.

“We are in a real war,” Amosov said in a video message translated by Ringside24. “I cannot understand those people who do not believe that Russian troops entered Ukraine. I see it with my own eyes, I hear it. Terrible things are happening here. We can do this.”

Amosov is currently scheduled to defend his welterweight title against Michael Page on May 13 at Bellator London. It is unknown as of this writing whether those plans will change.

Below is the full translation of Amosov’s message.

“Greetings. Many will assume that I fled, that I am hiding, or some other similar idea, but it isn’t true. I took my family to the safe zone. Now, I am back and I will protect this country with all that I can.

“I love this country, our own. Russia came to our house and started a war here, many people are dying — innocents, women, and children. We have to defend this country, and we succeed, friends. We will prevail, for the truth is right in front of us.

“I would like to address those who subscribed to me from Russia. You may think you don’t watch what is being shown on television, but this is false. If I were you, I wouldn’t even watch your news. There is a war. It is hard to believe people don’t think that Russian troops invaded Ukraine. It is something I can see and hear. These are terrible things. We can do this.

“Friends, unite, help each other, and everything will be fine with us. The truth is ours, and victory will also be ours.”