Maksim Chmerkovskiy flies to Poland to help Ukrainians after being slammed as COWARD for fleeing
‘Dancing With the Stars’ alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy has been hailed online after he flew to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees who escaped the war-torn nation. The 42-year-old was slammed in early March after he left Kyiv as Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February. Chmerkovskiy was reportedly in Ukraine at the time to shoot ‘World of Dance Ukraine’ when the attack happened, however, he somehow managed to escape in a train full of women and children.
On Sunday, March 20, the Ukrainian-American posted a video of himself on Instagram from Poland. He said, “Hi everybody. I'm fine. I'm good. I spent some time at home. I enjoyed some of that Los Angeles weather. Saw my family, saw my friends, obviously spent some time...And we've been working...We've been working on tangible opportunities to help.”
RELATED STORIES
Maksim Chmerkovskiy 'embarrassed' to be ONLY man in train full of women and kids out of Ukraine
Maksim Chmerkovskiy dubbed ‘coward’ for fleeing Kyiv on train packed with women, kids
Chmerkovskiy also launched a charity organization named Baranova 27 that is raising funds for devastated Ukraine as he went on to say, “My father and my brother, together with a lot of people that we work with all the time, that we just friends with, and with the help of whom, we've started our organization. And we've been working diligently on making Baranova 27 something that, as big as it took off, that it can continue that way.”
The Latin–ballroom dance champion then spoke about his plans to work together with Bethenny Frankel's BStrong charity and added, “People are getting hurt worse, there are more people hurt, and there are more people affected.”
This comes as Chmerkovskiy received a lot of criticism online after he returned to his California home fleeing his birth nation. At the time, he shared his ordeal with people and also expressed his embarrassment to be the only man in the train filled with women and children. He had said, “It's a bit surreal, to be honest. This is a country, you know? And the country is on fire. I get into these crying moments. I can't control it. I cried on the way from the airport. I felt embarrassed the entire ride back because I was the only man on the train amongst all women and children. I feel guilty. I feel bad. I feel shame. I feel upset.”
Despite Chmerkovskiy not being a Ukrainian national anymore after his family shifted to the US in 1994, he had to face the wrath of people, with many calling him a “coward”. Though he did not come out to defend himself, an acquaintance of his cleared that he did not do anything wrong by escaping Ukraine. They noted, “Maks is not a Ukrainian citizen, he's an American citizen. It was not an option for him to just 'stay and fight.’ The narrative of evading any duty to Ukraine is simply not accurate.”
However, Chmerkovskiy’s latest effort to help the people of Ukraine has been applauded by many. “You truly are amazing! ❤️” a user wrote below his Instagram video.
Another user commented, “You are simply AMAZING @maksimc. Sending prayers that this nightmare ends soon. My heart goes out to all who are in need and to all who have stepped up to help out.”
A third one said, “This man is doing more for the people of Ukraine than the people that are criticizing him are doing.” Another comment read, “Just be safe pay no mind the criticism do the best you can.”
One comment added, “You are amazing! SO PROUD OF YOU and YOUR TREMENDOUS EFFORTS!! God bless!! ❤️❤️🙌❤️❤️.”