Maxim Chmerkovsky returned safely to the United States.
The alumni of Dancing With the Stars – who posted updates on social media from his native Ukraine amid the Russian invasion – reunited emotionally with his wife, Peta Murgatroyd, at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday.
The two shared a long, sweet hug at the airport terminal, as seen in photos taken by paparazzi.
Margatroyd, 35, previously asked Instagram fans to pray for her husband’s safe return.
“I don’t usually ask these things from my social media network, but it’s extremely difficult today, and the next few will be even more difficult,” she wrote last week.
“My pain is insurmountable and I am struggling, but sending my positive light and love to him would mean the world to me. I really don’t want anything more. “
Margatroyd continued, urging fans to “please ask him to come home soon.”
“Please pray for a quick and safe way out. I have faith. I have HOPE and I PRAYED so hard, “she added. “Please pray for Ukraine and the lives of innocent civilians are severely eradicated. I have loved this country several times and I have been in an inexplicable situation. ”
As previously reported by Six, the 42-year-old Chmerkovsky was abroad to serve as a judge for the Ukrainian version of World of Dance, while Margatroyd was in Los Angeles with their 5-year-old son Shay.
The former mirror ball champion began posting videos from Ukraine amid the invasion and continued to document his journey as he tried to escape.
“[There’s] many battles everywhere. The streets are crazy. At one point I was arrested. … But everything is fine, I promise, “Chmerkovski said in one of his videos. “This was probably the least traumatic moment in all this work for Ukraine, but for me it was a test of reality.
On Monday, Chmerkovsky shared another update, informing fans that he was able to arrive safely “by train” from Ukraine and arrived in Poland.
“We are going to Warsaw (I hope). A train to Lviv was not an option. The situation at the station is insane, “he explained. “It feels manageable at first, but it gets MUCH worse when it comes time to get on the train.”