During the Russian invasion, Peta Murgatroyd admits she was’struggling to get through some days.’
During the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, Peta Murgatroyd posted an emotional video in which she admitted to’struggling to get through some days.’
Murgatroyd, 35, revealed her inner agony in a video she posted to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday. Her husband, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, recently fled Ukraine as Russia launched its invasion.
Murgatroyd explained in the video that she had been experiencing both good and terrible days, but that she was struggling that morning after witnessing a heartbreaking war movie.
‘I’ve walked those streets,’ Peta Murgatroyd claimed in an emotive video that she was’struggling to get through some days’ as a result of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.
‘Hey people, I’ve had a morning just thinking about the new video I released, and it’s tearing my heart every day, like I’m trying to get through some days.’
‘Some days are amazing, and others are dreadful because I can’t seem to get this out of my thoughts.’ I’ve walked those streets, I’ve been there; it’s such a lovely place, and I’m heartbroken for the children who are currently dying.
‘Just watch the video I shared, and believe me when I say that just because my husband is home, he is home for the time being, does not mean that we aren’t constantly trying to help.
‘Every every day, we are worrying about what is happening on there.’ Please keep it in mind.’
In the midst of the crisis, Murgatroyd wiped away tears as she addressed her Instagram fans.
Murgatroyd was alluding to a movie that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered to Congress on Wednesday, which depicted the loss and destruction that Ukraine has suffered.
The photographs depicted the deaths of small children as well as mass graves for civilian and military victims. As it played, several lawmakers were in tears. Murgatroyd also shared the same video on Instagram.
In a subsequent video, Peta was a little more cheery, thanking her friend’s partner for donating money to animals in Ukraine.
‘I also have the best friends, guys. Lacey Schwimmer, who appeared on our show Dancing With The Stars for many years, and her man Frankie Moreno are dedicating all of the revenues from their new single Upside Down to the animals in Ukraine who need support, assistance, and care, and I think it’s incredible.’
With Maksim’s recent ‘traumatic’ escape from Ukraine, Murgatroyd and her husband Chmerkovskiy have gone through quite the journey.
Murgatroyd’s heart broke when he heard of “the youngsters who are dying right now.”
On March 2, he landed in Los Angeles following a terrible voyage that took him from Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, to Warsaw, Poland, and then to America.
When Russia launched its invasion, the dancer and choreographer, who was born in Ukraine, was in the city filming a TV show.
He arrived in Warsaw, Poland’s capital, on Tuesday after being detained in Kyiv, and then boarded a ‘traumatizing’ train full of women and children bound for the Polish border.
Maks and his brother Val moved to New York with their parents in 1994 and became citizens of the United States.
Because all Ukrainian men of combat age – between 18 and 60 – are forbidden from leaving the nation and must remain to fight the Russian invaders, he was able to depart Ukraine thanks to his US passport.
‘We are constantly thinking about what is happening on there, every single day,’ she says. ‘Please keep that in mind,’ Peta replied.
On Friday, March 4, Chmerkovskiy appeared on Good Morning America and discussed the survivor’s guilt he was experiencing.
‘To be honest, it’s a little strange.’ You do realize that this is a country, right? And the country is ablaze,’ he said on GMA.
‘I have these crying spells.’ I’m unable to stop it. ‘I was crying on the drive home from the airport,’ he admitted.
‘The entire ride back, I felt uncomfortable because I was the only man on the train among all the women and children,’ Maks said, adding, ‘I feel guilty.’ I am in a horrible mood. I’m embarrassed. I’m in a bad mood.’
With Maksim’s recent ‘traumatic’ escape from Ukraine, Murgatroyd and her husband Chmerkovskiy have gone through quite the journey.
Maks had intended to stay in Kyiv during the fight, but he was imprisoned for violating the curfew. The reality star had a “aha” moment after his brief run-in with the authorities, and he decided he wanted to get back to his wife Peta and his son.
‘It felt like things got serious, and all of a sudden I realized I didn’t have all of the things I needed to feel comfortable in this area,’ he explained. ‘I’m just not built for this.’ I’m only now recognizing that I’m not in the right position.’
Maks married fellow DWTS pro Peta, 35, in 2017 and they have a five-year-old kid named Shai.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a tearful speech to Congress on Wednesday that his country has been living through its own version of September 11th and Pearl Harbor every day since Russia invaded, and he urged the US to protect his skies, invoking Martin Luther King and the Founding Fathers.
He also confronted Vice President Joe Biden, telling him to become the ‘leader of the free world,’ demanded more sanctions against Russia to stop the ‘war machine,’ requested fighter jets, and shared horrific footage of civilians being maimed in Kyiv, all while urging lawmakers to ‘do more’ to protect his country.
‘I’m speaking to Vice President Joe Biden.’ You are the leader of your country, your beautiful country. I wish you were the world’s leader. In his solemn address to Congress, he said, “Being the leader of the world requires being the leader of peace.”
During his presentation, he received several standing ovations from parliamentarians.
After Zelensky’s statement, Biden offered his own, in which he proposed a $800 million military support package. He also referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “war criminal” for the first time on Wednesday.
‘I believe he is a war criminal,’ Biden told White House reporters.
Invoking civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Zelensky also called for a new coalition outside of NATO to avert future attacks and protect against Vladimir Putin’s bullying. I have a responsibility to safeguard our skies. I’m in need of your decision, just like you are when you say, “I have a dream.”
In his speech, Obama provided a terrible film depicting the loss and destruction that Ukraine has seen. The photographs depicted the deaths of small children as well as mass graves for civilian and military victims. As it played, several lawmakers were in tears.
Zelensky reiterated his call for a no-fly zone above his country, which he has made to governments throughout the world, including in speeches to the Canadian and British parliaments. The United States and its allies are concerned that such a move might lead to World War III.
He turned to English for his dramatic, final, concluding appeal, in which he stated that the murders of his country’s children, as well as the damage brought by Russia, had caused him to lose his desire to live.
In halting, accented English, he continued, “Being the leader of the means to be the leader of peace.”
‘I’m about 45 years old. ‘I see no meaning in life now that the hearts of over 100 youngsters have stopped beating,’ he added.
‘I’m speaking to Vice President Joe Biden.’ You are the leader of your country, your beautiful country. I wish you were the world’s leader. In his final remarks, he stated, “To be the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.”
A standing ovation was given to him by American lawmakers.
Maks and fellow DWTS pro Peta, 35, married in 2017 and have a five-year-old son Shai.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy, a pro on Dancing With The Stars, has a timeline in Ukraine.
2 FEBRUARY
Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who was born in Ukraine but became a US citizen in 2019, is flying to Kyiv to film a new Ukrainian show called World of Dance for a “few months.”
6 FEBRUARY
The 42-year-old Dancing With The Stars pro says he’s’really glad to be back in Ukraine’ as he begins filming as a judge on the panel.
24 FEBRUARY
Maksim posts an emotional video from Kyiv in which he says, “I want to go home,” and that he is “ready to walk into a bomb shelter because s**t is going down.” Peta Murgatroyd, with whom he shares a five-year-old son Shai, begs for his safe return and prays for him. ‘My grief is enormous, and I’m struggling,’ she admits. Please pray for a quick and safe evacuation for him.’
25 FEBRUARY
He sends another video from Kyiv in which he assures followers that he is “safe,” but that the situation is “very dire,” and that the “entire country is being summoned to war.” I don’t have a solution; all I want is for the shooting to stop.’
26 FEBRUARY
He chastises Kirstie Alley, his former DWTS partner, for tweeting that she doesn’t know what’s “real” and “false” about Russia invading his homeland. ‘No one needs your prayer if you don’t know what’s real and what’s not,’ he said.
27 FEBRUARY
Petra acknowledges she’s going through ‘hell,’ but expresses gratitude to her followers for their warmth and support, admitting that strangers baked her cookies to cheer her up. ‘I love you and I’ll see you soon!’ Maks said in response to her message. ‘Please save a cookie for me.’
28 FEBRUARY
Maks says he was detained in Kyiv, but he doesn’t say why. He admitted that the “streets are chaotic” and that the arrest was “probably the least upsetting moment,” but that it served as a “reality check.” ‘I’m going to attempt and make my way out,’ he says, revealing his plan to flee.
I’m going to begin walking towards the border. I have choices. I’m a little anxious, but I think everything will work out. I’m confident everything will work out.’ Later, he boarded a train to Warsaw with women and children, describing the ride as “claustrophobic.”
1 MARCH
After 31 hours of no sleep on his ‘traumatizing’ train ride mothers and children fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion arrive in Warsaw, Poland. The celebrity expresses gratitude to the “wonderful Polish people.”
2 MARCH
Maks boards a flight from Warsaw to Los Angeles. In an emotional reunion, he is greeted at the airport by his wife, Peta Murgatroyd.
4 MARCH
Maks tells GMA in his first interview since escaping Ukraine that he feels “guilty” for fleeing the war-torn country and is experiencing spells of tears as a result of the painful experience. He also revealed that he was detained in Kyiv for violating the curfew.
Maksim, who was last seen on February 24, posted an emotional video from Kyiv, saying, “I want to go back home,” and that he is “ready to walk into a bomb shelter because s**t is going down.”
