Photo: Michael Tullberg/Getty
Val Chmerkovskiyis sharing the reality of what his family and friends are going through in Ukraine.
During an interview withOlivia Jade, for herConversations with Olivia Jadepodcast, theDancing with the Starspro spoke about the experiences his family, including his brotherMaks Chmerkovskiy, has endured following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Val, 36, opened up about his brother Maks, 42, being in Kyiv (the capital of Ukraine) on Feb. 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed an attack on Ukraine.
“My brother was in Kyiv when the invasion started, and we were all really nervous, obviously,” he told his formerDWTSpartner. “He was petrified, we talked about it, and he was grateful to get out, but he is now right back at the Polish border trying to do whatever he can.”
Maks (left) and Val Chmerkovskiy.Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/Getty Images
Earlier this month, Maks arrived home at the Los Angeles International Airport, where he wasphotographed embracing his wife,Peta Murgatroyd, during an emotional reunion. Soon after, he expressed his desire to return to Eastern Europe to provide support.
“There was a lot of sadness still because it’s good that we are safe here, the privilege of living in this country, but there are a lot of our friends and family and peers that are in Ukraine right now that are, like I said, in bomb shelters,” Val continued. “And I think we are getting a little used to hearing that word, and we are kinda like, ‘Okay cool.’ No, no, no you don’t understand what that is, that means you don’t have a home, and you hide in a shelter with nothing there.”
Sharing more about the heart-wrenching situation in his home country, Val explained, “It’s crazy to me the courage that it takes for a fellow dancer. Yesterday we were competing at a dance competition. Today, he picked up an AK-47. He’s patrolling his street… I don’t know [if] that’s the kind of life we wanna have in this world.”
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During his conversation with Olivia Jade, Val also discussed the common confusion some people had between the two countries prior to the Feb. 24 attacks. He noted how he’s been asked on several occasions about his country of origin, claiming sometimes it was easier to say he’s from Russia than his actual home country of Ukraine since it wasn’t as well-knownand because he speaks Russian.Val also said the one “silver lining” the tragedy had created was that “now people know where Ukraine is.”
“My sadness absolutely will be with the Ukrainian people, absolutely, but it is also with the Russian people because unfortunately these actions are setting the country back and isolating that country,” he shared.
Val also raved about the President of Ukraine,Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who the world has admired for his courageous act in fighting for his country. Val shared that he has an “attachment” to the politician due to their similar background in the entertainment industry, confirming to Olivia Jade that Zelenskyy is also a fellowDancing with the Starsalum.
“He was an amazing actor, artist, comedian, in particular, who got a degree … he is an educated man, but pursued the arts and was really good at it and charismatic,” Val explained. “He was a celebrity in Ukraine and Russia … he was a well-respected artist, and in 2006, he actually competed in Ukranian’sDancing with The Starsand won.”
source: people.com
