‘Crying as I’m typing.’ Ukrainian-American star shares window into Russian invasion
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Emergency sirens echo through the streets of Ukraine in the background of ”Dancing with the Stars” celebrity Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s video on Instagram.
In the hours prior to his post, Russia invaded Ukrainian territory, triggering fear and anxiety among residents.
“I will never be the same. This is stressful and I’m getting old feelings back, like I’ve done this before. This does feel like the way it was when and why we left in the 90s,” Chmerkovskiy said.
The invasion of Ukraine began Feb. 24, and Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened that any country that attempted to interfere would face “consequences you have never seen,” McClatchy News reported.
As Russian forces pushed toward Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, cities, towns and villages were bombarded along the way, McClatchy News reported.
As global leaders and politicians weigh in on the last 24 hours, so have citizens and celebrities online.
Chmerkovskiy immigrated to the United States when he was 14 years old with his family from Ukraine and returned to his homeland as the invasion swept the county, according to The Hill.
As he stands and speaks to his audience on a video posted on Instagram, he reflects on how he wants to go home, but knows that many people in Ukraine have nowhere to go.
“You know me. I stay strong and I don’t show it, but...” he trails off, choked up.
Chmerkovskiy posted another video filming families hauling backpacks through parks with children
Much of the people fleeing the invasion have found themselves stuck in hours-long traffic jams, as correspondent Øystein Bogen posted on his twitter.
“At least 10 km long traffic jam,” Bogen tweeted. “All refugees, clamoring to get away from the Russian invasion army.”
Another reporter shared footage as the Russian military invaded the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
The Chernobyl plant is about 60 miles north of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. At the time of the plant’s 1986 nuclear disaster, Chernobyl and the rest of Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union.
Videos from reporters show tanks occupying the area as Russia seizes the plant.
As tension rises in Ukraine, Russians have gathered in opposition to the invasion. One protester filmed a gathering in Russia, where residents are heard shouting, “нет войны,” or “No war,” as they move down the streets.
In his series of videos, Chmerkovskiy shares how he feels signs of post-traumatic stress disorder returning.
“I literally only just forgot about those ’always on the edge’ feelings and actually started worrying about things like bbq grills. I’m crying as I’m typing this because all man deserves to worry about ’bbq grills’ and not f-ing war,” Chmerkovskiy writes. “Hug your loved ones.”
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 6:52 PM with the headline "‘Crying as I’m typing.’ Ukrainian-American star shares window into Russian invasion."
