Strictly’s Nikita Kuzmin has reunited with his gran in Poland after she escaped war in Ukraine by walking five miles.
The professional dancer, 24, applauded his grandmother for her bravery and for facing the freezing cold to walk five miles (8km) to flee the war-torn country.
In an impassioned Instagram post, Strictly’s choroegrapher revealed he driven from Frankfurt to reunite with his gran who had travelled from Kyiv and his mum who had flown in from Rome.
He wrote on Instagram: “Picked up my grandma from Poland! She is so incredibly brave & strong, 2 nights without sleeping, walking 8km + in the freezing cold, when on a normal day, she can barely walk! She traveled from Kyiv, my mom flew from Rome and I drove from Frankfurt and we all reunited in Krakow! Just so happy to be together.”
However, the dancer said he was still waiting for his aunt, grandma and grandpa to escape Kyiv.
Putin’s invasion of the country has entered its 17th day with Russian forces approaching the capital, according to the UK’s Ministry of Defence.
Reflecting on what has happened, the dancer said he was reduced to tears at the situation unfolding in Ukraine.
“Just had tears on my eyes, because of how sad the situation is,” he went on.
“How many thousands of kids and women doing their absolute best to stay strong. I’ve seen people arriving from the border, people waiting for the next train to go somewhere, anywhere in hope that somehow things would be ok, people not knowing what to do, since all what they have known as home, it’s not there anymore.
“Also appreciating how incredible people are. Incredible organization from every side. How they pick you up in the city and people being so kind to help.”
Filming first hand in Poland, the 24-year-old captured the scene where volunteers could be seen helping the crowds.
He heaped on the praise for volunteers as he wanted everyone to recognise all the hard work they were doing at the border and at the train station.
“People are so kind,” he wrote. “There are still millions without water and food, not able to escape the city because of continuous bombing. Not sure if they are going to make it to see their kids and families again.”
He urged people to do something - whether it be donate money, medicine, daily toiletries, support small businesses, Airbnbs, but most importantly, he said: “Don’t stay silent.”
