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'DWTS' Dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy Returns to Poland, Raises Money to Help Refugees Amid Ukraine Crisis

'DWTS' Dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy Returns to Poland, Raises Money to Help Refugees Amid Ukraine Crisis
Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Instagram

'It Is Getting Worse’

Maksim Chmerkovskiy shared an update on how he's helping those in need during the war in Ukraine after he returned overseas.


The 42-year-old ballroom dancer went live on Instagram on Sunday, March 20, reassuring his fans that he's "fine" after spending time in Los Angeles with his wife, Petra Murgatroyd, and son Shai, 5. "

We've been working on tangible opportunities to help," he explained.

Chmerkovskiy, born in Ukraine, spoke for 14 minutes about fundraising efforts and charitable organizations, including his Baranova27 aid project, which provides relief for refugees. The former "Dancing With the Stars" pro launched his GoFundMe page earlier this month and has since raised more than $138,000 for fellow Ukrainians.

The news of Chmerkovskiy's trip back to the war-torn region comes after a recent interview with CNN. He revealed that he feels "survivor's remorse" since returning to the United States from the country he once called home.

"I spent the last couple of days with survivor's remorse," the "Dancing With the Stars" alum said after landing back in Los Angeles. "And I'm currently working on an opportunity to go back. Probably sometime next week, I'm going to go back to Poland and join efforts on the ground. Sort of want to justify my safe out that way."

The invasion, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has drawn condemnation worldwide and increasingly severe economic sanctions against Russia.

With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for peace talks, so far unsuccessful, while urging his country to fight back.

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