Former world champion boxer Vitali Klitschko has issued a chilling warning amid reports of Russian forces kidnapping Ukrainian mayors. Per <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-ukraine-mayor-kidnapped-abducted-b2034804.html">The Independent</a>, President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke out on Sunday about the alleged kidnapping of Yevhen Matveyev, calling it "a crime against democracy". Matveyev was reportedly taken from the town of Dniprorudne - the town he represents - on Sunday morning. Matveyev's alleged kidnapping came after the disappearance of another Ukrainian mayor, Ivan Fedorov, from the city of Melitopol. President Zelensky also released a video in response to Fedorov's disappearance, saying that he had been kidnapped by Russian forces and compared his enemy's actions to those of Islamic State "terrorists". Per <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/ivan-fedorov-melitopol-mayor-ukraine-kidnapped-russia/11644442/">ABC7 News</a>, Zelensky added that Russian forces were trying to "physically liquidate representatives of Ukraine’s lawful local authorities". Now, Vitali Klitschko - who currently serves as the mayor for the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv - has spoken out about the alleged kidnappings. Watch Klitschko deliver his chilling message below: [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/AmericaRpts/status/1503451218760421381]] In an interview with Fox News's <a href="https://twitter.com/AmericaRpts">America Reports</a> with John Roberts on Monday, Klitschko said that he is "ready to fight". The former WBO world champion said: "I am ready to fight. This will be not easy to do that. Every citizens, nobody is safe, nobody feels safety in our country right now in this very difficult situation. But everyone ready to fight, ready to defend our city, and I am not worried about kidnap. "I am ready to fight, that’s why I have weapons, that’s why it’s my hometown and I want to defend the interest of my citizens, the interest of my home, the interest of my family." The world championship silver medalist went on to explain how "war has rules", and that Russian forces are breaking those rules. "Never touch children, never touch women, never touch civilians," Klitschko said. "But Russians doesn’t want the rules and what they want is the symbol, symbol of the city, symbol of community. "They can’t stop the mood of the people and that’s why they kidnap — kidnap the mayors, and it’s actually against all rules and we see how unfriendly, how un-human activity make Russians in our land." Klitschko - who assumed office as Kyiv mayor back in June 2014 - has been using his social media channel to document the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Vitaliy_Klychko/status/1503330582742421507]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Vitaliy_Klychko/status/1503330675579052032]] Just yesterday, he shared images of the destruction left behind by a "shell" after striking a "9-storey residential building in Obolon". If you would like to know how you can support the Ukrainian people at this time, click <a href="https://vt.co/news/world/heres-how-you-can-support-those-affected-by-the-ongoing-crisis-in-ukraine">HERE</a> to find a list of organizations and groups dedicated to helping those affected by this crisis. <h6>Featured image credit: Abaca Press / Alamy</h6>

Champion boxer-turned-Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko issues chilling warning amid kidnapping fears

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