With the amount of action currently happening in Ukraine , the flurry of news and reports can be tough to parse, especially for those worried about authenticity and making sure they don’t fall prey to any internet hoaxes.
In instances like these, getting news from people on the ground is the best source, and this time around, there’s someone rather famous helping with that.
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Maksim Chmerkovskiy is a Ukrainian-born dancer.
He’s been a fixture on Dancing With The Stars for most of the show’s run, dancing alongside the likes of Kirstie Alley and Amber Rose.
Right now, though, he’s Kyiv as Ukraine is being invaded by Russia.
He’s been posting update videos to his Instagram.
All of which are very sobering for those not currently witnessing the combat for themselves.
In his first video he says that he’s not one to post on social media during moments of personal struggle, and he wouldn’t normally post during a time such as this, but he wanted to update people about his situation. Sirens can be heard blaring in the background.
He shows off the near-empty streets, save for military vehicles and people fleeing.
In his second video, a continuation of his first, he expresses that he knows he has a better chance at escape due to him having a different passport, but he then becomes emotional talking about family, friends, and their children who don’t have the same privilege.
He then pleads to any Russians watching.
“In 2022’s civilized world, this is not the way we do things, and I think as a powerful, forward-thinking nation […] the Russians need to get up and actually say something, because no one’s opinion is being heard. This is all one man’s ambition.”
“I’m not someone who is pleading for someone else’s safety from a safe distance. I’m someone who is about to go into a bomb shelter.”
He’s posted four other videos since.
In the first, he provides an update from a safe location where he informs viewers that the entire country has been called to fight. He notes that people he was judging in dance competitions just days before are now picking up guns to fight for their country.
His updates continue.
In his second video, he tells everyone saying he’s not trying to leave Ukraine at the moment as it’s pretty dangerous, but promising he is safe. In the third, a shot of a street at night frames the sound of someone playing the Ukrainian national anthem on what sounds like a trumpet.
The fourth video is very different from the other three.
It features two young Russian soldiers speaking to the camera explaining “how they ended up here and asking to be taken back to Russia.”
The comments under this post all comment on how young and frightened they are, many people understanding that not every Russian soldier fighting necessarily wants to do so, especially in the wake of the massive anti-war protests happening within the country.
Chmerkovskiy’s up close and personal updates have not gone unappreciated, either.
His comments are filled with love and support from people all over the world, thanking him for sharing what it’s actually like.
“I’m going to do my best and try and keep you informed. I am not a journalist, I have absolutely no reason to do this other than I just want an opinion of someone else [out there] ’cause news? News is crazy. […] Love you all.”
h/t: Comic Sands
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