Former Dancing With the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy has taken to social media to share his reality of being stuck in Ukraine in the midst of the recent Russian invasion. Currently serving as a judge on DWTS Ukraine, the dancer began posting updates from his home country’s capital city, Kyiv, on February 24.
“I’m in Kyiv, contrary to what I probably should’ve done a while ago,” he said in an emotional Instagram post. “And not that no one saw this coming, but everybody was hoping that the finality of this situation would be averted, that there wasn’t going to be these kind of aggressive measures.”
In his most recent videos posted on Friday, February 25, he assured fans that he’s safe and is following orders, though many of his family and friends are in trickier situations. “The whole country is being called to go to war,” he said. “Men, women, boys … are going forward and getting guns and getting deployed to defend the country.”
He goes on to discuss the difficulties of people attempting to flee the country and how many who are sick, elderly, or have children don’t necessarily have the option to do so. Having heard the trip to the Polish border is unsafe, he has chosen to stay put for the time being but hopes to return home soon to his wife, former DWTS pro Peta Murgatroyd and their five-year-old son Shai.
“If it’s not resolved in a peaceful manner in some way or form in the next day or so or two, I think it’s gonna take a turn for very, very much more aggressive actions and a lot more casualties,” he stated.
Murgatroyd posted an emotional message on February 24, asking for prayers for her husband’s safe return, writing, “Please pray for Ukraine and the innocent civilians who’s lives are being greatly uprooted. I grew to love this country the couple of times I visited and they’re in an unfathomable situation.”
She continued, “My pain is overwhelming and I’m struggling, but you sending your positive light and love to him would mean the world to me. Truly, I wish for nothing more.”
As things continue to unfold, Chmerkovskiy will continue to post updates of his journey, telling fans, “I’m gonna do my best to try and keep you informed. I’m not a journalist — I have absolutely no reason to do this other than I just want an opinion of someone else, ’cause news is crazy and the reports have been insane. Love you all.”
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