Former Dancing with the Stars pro, Maksim Chmerkovskiy is still in Ukraine, but planning to leave the war-torn country very soon. He became stranded there after Russia invaded Ukraine last week. He has been in Kyiv filming the Ukraine version of World of Dance.
Maks has been updating from the embattled city daily, and he’s now plotting his escape after a recent arrest.
In a new video posted on Instagram on Feb. 28, Maks said, “Just a lot of fighting everywhere.The streets are crazy. At one point, I got arrested…but all good, promise. That was probably the least traumatizing moment in this whole thing as far as Ukraine is concerned, but for me, it was just a reality check.”
“I’m going to try to make my way out,” he said. “I’m going to try to start getting toward the border. I have options. My options are better than most people’s unfortunately.”
“There’s a lot to unpack, but I’m not in the mental state to do it,” Maks said. “I’m just trying to stay focused.” He also urged his friends and family not to panic if he disappears for awhile.
Also, he addressed reports of unfair treatment at the border. “It is inhumane and it is wrong.” He’s likely talking about reports that Nigerians are being blocked from getting on buses.
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UPDATE: Maks boarded a train to Poland
Maks posted an update on his Instagram stories. He’s on a train headed to Warsaw.
“I made it on the train. We’re heading to Warsaw (hopefully). Train to Lviv was not an option. The situation at the train station is insane,” Maks writes. “AT first it feels manageable, but it gets A LOT worse when it comes time to actually board the train. Long story but all I can say now is that I’m a big man with nothing but a backpack it’s TRAUMATIZING.”
He continued, “Currently I’m in a cabin with 4 adults and 7 kids (ages 2-11) which usually is only occupied by maximum of 3 people. There’s usually up to 30 people in this particular wagon. We were told we have to fit 135. Walkways are packed. People everywhere. It’s sweaty and claustrophobic.”
“Please pray for my husband”
Maks’ wife, fellow pro Peta Murgatroyd asked her followers to pray for her husband’s safe return to the United States.
“Please pray for my husband Maks,” she wrote in a note posted Instagram Feb. 24. “I don’t usually ask these things from my social media network, however, today is extremely hard and the next few will be even harder. 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. Please pray that he comes home soon. Please pray that he has a swift, safe exit.”
Peta asked for prayers for Ukraine, “Please pray for Ukraine and the innocent civilians whose live are being greatly uprooted.”
Valentin Chmerkovskiy calls Russian speaking dancers who are ignoring the Ukraine catastrophe “spineless little b******.”
And, hoo boy, Maks’ younger brother Valentin Chmerkovskiy, who currently competes on Dancing with the Stars, called out his Russian speaking friends and “specifically the dancers that have competed, trained, and visited the cities they are watching burn…” He writes, “To all of my Russian speaking friends that are quietly continuing to stay in your lane, ignoring what’s happening…you are spineless little b******. And I will remind you of that next time we line up on that dance floor.”
— DWTSGossip (@DWTSGossip) February 27, 2022
