A marker of a split – who and why is Usik hating in Ukraine

Ukrainian Alexander Usik won British boxer Anthony Joshua and became world champion heavyweight champion WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO. While boxing fans admired the beauty of the fight, a scandal erupted on social networks. Users of the Ukrainian segment were divided into two camps:

• those who consider Usik a hero and a patriot;
• those who criticize the athlete and call him almost a traitor to the Motherland.

The site “Segodnya” found out what the haters are unhappy with and why not all Ukrainians are proud of the champion’s merits.

Congratulations and insults

The third day, the name of Alexander Usik is replete in the headlines of the world media, and the athlete himself is bombarded with congratulations from sports stars, actors, musicians and politicians. However, not all Ukrainians are proud of their compatriot’s achievement. On social networks, you can find a lot of negative comments and even insults of the new world champion. Activists, politicians and media representatives recall Usyk’s statements and actions, which previously caused an ambiguous reaction in society.

What Usik is accused of

• In 2016, a storm of indignation was caused by the words of a boxer that “Crimea is Crimea”. Thus, the boxer evaded a direct answer to the question of whether the peninsula is Ukrainian.
• On February 23 of the same year, Usik congratulated the men on Defender of the Fatherland Day, which is not celebrated in Ukraine and was criticized by nationalists.
• Alexander Usiku is remembered for a fight with Russian boxer Murat Gassiev in Moscow in 2018. Even Usik’s victory and the Ukrainian flag in the Russian capital did not become a convincing counterargument for haters.
• Critics also do not understand Usik’s motive to refuse the title “Hero of Ukraine” in the same year. The award was offered to the boxer by Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman. “For my people, I am already a hero, so I don’t need stars.”– said then the boxer, offering to present awards to doctors and teachers.
• Usyk is scolded for shooting in 2020 in the Russian film “Hello, Brother! Christ is Risen” and the Ukrainian’s statements that he will not stop being friends with Russian athletes, despite the war in Donbass and the annexation of Crimea. And in the base of the site “Peacemaker” Usyk, together with Lomachenko, have long been listed as “participants in the anti-Ukrainian propaganda activities of Russia.”

Usyk’s personal life is also under attack. Haters are interested in everything: what language does he speak in everyday life? What church does the athlete go to? All this is another reason for criticism and hype in social networks.

These facts turned out to be enough for the haters to pass the verdict: “Usyk is not a real patriot.” And even Alexander’s categorical refusal of citizenship and contracts of his northern neighbor did not convince particularly ardent opponents.

Who is not happy with the victory of Usyk

One of the ardent critics of Usik is murder suspect activist Sergei Sternenko.

“I am very amused by the victory of Usyk. Now the world champion as a heavyweight will be able to tell this very world that we have no war, the Russians are our brothers, and the Crimea is God.”, – he wrote on his Facebook page.

Sternenko also posted a photo of Aleksandr Usik’s first coach, Sergei Lapin, with the president of Russia on his T-shirt and the inscription: “Every blow is for Putin.”

“Usyk still communicates with him, and took his son to his team”– added the activist.

Former MP from the Svoboda party Igor Miroshnichenko stated that he did not care at all how the fight of his compatriot went, since “real Ukrainians lack awareness of elementary things about the enemy’s hybrid aggression.”

“When Usyk brings his champion belts to the Lavra to the Moscow priest Onufriy and says about one nation, do not forget to remove your praises. A short memory is one of the reasons for our defeats in Muscovy.”, – he wrote on Facebook.

One more former People’s Deputy Yevgeny Rybchinsky at first he criticized Usik, but after the victory he nevertheless congratulated him, but clarified that he was not his hero. But then, Rybchinsky probably changed his mind and hid the post from his Facebook page, withdrawing congratulations.

Journalist and blogger Bogdan Butkevich said that he regrets the victory of Usik, which, according to him, will bring Ukraine “enormous harm.”

“Unfortunately, Usyk won. This is a” Trojan horse “. After all, Usyk will start a cotton relay tomorrow. Hiding behind his really outstanding sports victory. And the Ukrainian flag. And champion status. For the first time when I am not happy about the victory of a boxer with a Ukrainian passport.”, – he wrote on his Facebook.

According to Butkevich, “tomorrow the enemies will use Usyk’s victory against Ukraine,” and Usyk’s patriotism is exclusively a flag and a hopak.

“And don’t give a damn about what flag he went out with, in what shorts and under what song. What matters is what he carries in general. And this is Little Russia. Orthodoxy and friendship with Rashka are in his head.”– said Butkevich.

He also called on active Ukrainians not to allow the country to turn into Little Russia, which, according to him, is a symbol of the Ukrainian champion.

Another Usik hater, TV presenter “Channel 5” Yanina Sokolova spoke about Usik, but with less negative.

“The only time when I am rooting for Usik and forget about all the xy * nude that he carried earlier is when he steps into the ring and puts on shorts with the flag of Ukraine.”, – she wrote on her Facebook page.

Director Oleg Sentsov offered to “re-educate” the boxer and asked himself what strategy the state and society would choose.

“Are we pushing Usik by the curb, or are we trying to work with his consciousness and drag him to our side? Like any patriot of Ukraine, it is impossible for me to agree with the nonsense that Usik regularly carries when he opens his mouth. His vague position on Crimea and Putin’s -the propaganda clichés that make up the mind of this boxer are directly opposite to mine “, – he wrote on his Facebook page.

Criticism of the “Ukrainian Piedmont”

Political scientist Sergei Bykov notes that in Ukraine those who criticize Usik are much less than those who admire him.

“The criticism comes mainly from the supporters of the” Ukrainian Piedmont “(the nationalists of Lvov and Galicia). Those who are dissatisfied with Usik make up 5-8% of all Ukrainians,” Bykov says to Segodnya.

The political scientist is sure that they are trying to present Usik as a “wrong Ukrainian”, but the standard of a “right” citizen of Ukraine, as such, does not exist.

“We live in a multinational cultural society. In Donbass, Ukrainians are fighting, many of whom speak Russian, some in Hungarian. But they all defend their homeland from the enemy. People in Ukraine work and pay taxes, benefit the state, and not all, At the same time, they are waving the Ukrainian banner. As for Usik, it is absolutely all the same what language he speaks and what God he prays to, if after his victories the whole world sees the Ukrainian flag and hears the Ukrainian anthem, “Bykov says.

Haters are right in their own way

Views on Usyk’s activities differ, first of all, depending on political sympathies. This is what “Today” says political scientist Vladimir Volya.

“Some treat him positively, others neutral, criticize those who do not agree with, in their opinion, the pro-Russian statements of the boxer. A negative attitude towards the athlete is their position and has a right to exist. However, no matter how they treat Usik, his sporting achievements unambiguously add fame and positive image of Ukraine in the world, “the expert emphasized.

The toad presses, but there is nothing to boast about

With regard to haters, Usik spoke out sharply Ukrainian boxer, ex-WBC world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

“Not everyone in Ukraine supported Usik? I don’t know who did not support him. I think all adequate Ukrainians supported him. There are a lot of people in our country who are simply crushed by a toad. I think this is connected with this.”– said the athlete in an interview with Tribuna.

Gvozdyk was also surprised at the criticism of some Ukrainians.

“Apart from athletes, and Alexander in particular, who else glorifies our country? We have nothing more to boast about. What other events glorify us? Everything else brings us just the opposite effect.”, – said the former world champion.

The split will help Putin

Political scientist Maxim Yali believes that Usik’s victory became a marker of the split in Ukrainian society.

“The incredible and bright victory of Oleksandr Usik once again demonstrated how fragmented our society is in the 8th year of the war. now on the lips of the whole world “, – he wrote on the social network.

The political scientist noted that while in Ukraine Usyk is criticized for his faith, language and political views, thousands of people around the world feel a sense of the deepest respect for Usyk and Ukraine.

“They all listened to the Ukrainian anthem and saw the flag of Ukraine on Usyk’s shoulders. And someone, for sure, saw the inscriptions” Simferopol “and” Ukraine “on his gloves.”, – said the political scientist.

Yali also drew attention to the fact that our athletes have been doing much more for the positive PR of Ukraine in the world for all 30 years of Independence than all politicians put together.

“Those who have ever been abroad in the nineties and early 2000s will understand. The only associations with Ukraine are Bubka, Shevchenko, the Klitschko brothers. Usyk could receive millions of dollars from Russians for changing citizenship. They know how, unlike us, to appreciate their champions and are aware of the benefits they bring to the country.– he added.

According to the political scientist, Russia will definitely take advantage of such a split in Ukraine

“If some part of society, clearly a smaller one, wants everyone else to become like them, then they must understand that in this case, we will not return not only Crimea and ORDLO, but we must also be prepared for the fact that the borders Ukraine will be rewritten on the maps more than once. That is what Putin wants. And you are just useful idiots for him. Who help him day after day. “, – summed up the expert.

Earlier, the Segodnya website reported that Moscow is trying to appropriate someone else’s glory, stating that Mustache – Russian.

We also informed that Alexander Usik would like to have a rematch with Anthony Joshua at the NSC Olimpiyskiy in Kiev.

However, according to Alexander, it is not important for him. “At least in space”– says the Ukrainian.

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