Usyk criticized Ukrainian nationalists, who have sprouted all over the country as of late.
"There appeared way too many animals [in reference to nationalists] in Ukraine," the gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics in the heavyweight division told the sport magazine Xsport.ua, according to Ruposters.
The boxer said he has a lot of fans both in Ukraine and Russia. When it comes to these two countries, Usyk said that until recently they have always been brotherly.
"I don't differentiate between our people [Russians and Ukrainians]. We're the Slavic people, let's just say that. There are no barriers. Barriers are only inside the heads of some people," Usyk said during the interview, according to Ruposters.
Ukrainian nationalists became a dangerous force during the 2013-2014 Maidan protests taking part in the coup which ousted President Viktor Yanukovych.
After the coup a lot of nationalists have been involved in the Donbass conflict, during which some of them were accused of committing crimes against humanity.
Last summer, for example, members of the Right Sector nationalist group clashed with local police forces in the town of Mukachevo. The incident left several people killed and 13 injured, including police officers. Afterwards, Right Sector members staged numerous protests across the country, including central Kiev. The nationalists were openly against the government, demanding the resignation of Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.
