Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Dancing With the Stars professional Maks Chmerkovskiy has been in the heart of it all. Currently staying in Kyiv, Chmerkovskiy has used his social media following to give the world a first-hand look at what is transpiring in Ukraine.
From asking the world to get loud to advocating for peace, the Ukrainian American has shared it all. Now, after being arrested, he is attempting to flee Ukraine in hopes of returning home to his family in Los Angeles, California, where he lives with his wife and young son.
In his most recent update, Chmerkovskiy revealed that he was able to get on a train that his “hopefully” heading to Warsaw, although he was attempting to catch a train to Lviv, which “was not an option” at the time, he said.
“The situation at the train station is insane. A first it feels manageable, but it gets A LOT worse when it comes time to actually board the train,” Chmerkovskiy explained via his Instagram Story. “Long story but all I can say now is that I’m a big man with nothing but a backpack it’s TRAUMATIZING.”
“Currently I’m in a cabin with 4 adults and 7 kids (ages 2-11) which usually is only occupied by a maximum of 3 people. There are 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.”
DWTS’ Maks Chmerkovskiy Reveals What Broke Him As He Attempts to Leave Ukraine
But what “finally” broke Chmerkovskiy is what he witnessed as he boarded the train. As the dancer revealed, he witness a son be forced to walk away from his father, who was staying in Ukraine to fight the Russian army.
“What finally broke me is when I was watching an eight-ish-year-old boy, hysterically crying and not wanting to let go of his father,” Chmerkovskiy wrote before revealing, verbatim, what the boy said to his father before they parted. “If you stay I want to stay too because if they kill you I won’t be able to help.”
In his last video update, Chmerkovskiy also addressed the news that African students who were studying in Ukraine and are attempting to cross the border into neighboring countries are being forced to stand back while other Ukrainian citizens are crossing ahead of them. “It is inhumane. And it is wrong. People are running from conflict, from the war. Treat everybody the same.”
As the war on Ukraine continues, NATO countries and more have denounced Putin’s actions and imposed harsh sanctions on Russia. And various countries have since begun to answer Ukraine’s call for supplies that will aid them in their fight.