Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has the world’s attention, including celebrities from Angelina Jolie to Mark Ruffalo who are weighing in on the ongoing crisis.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine began in the pre-dawn hours of Moscow Thursday and international backlash followed swiftly, with sanctions by the United States and a host of other countries. President Biden said the new economic measures would “limit Russia’s ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen to be part of the global economy.”
Putin continued to push forward, slowly encroaching into the one-time Soviet Republic that has expressed a desire to someday join NATO.
As of Friday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that 137 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been killed with hundreds more wounded. Thousands more are evacuating to nearby Poland.
Some stars have taken the opportunity to use their platforms to voice their support of Ukraine and condemn Russia.
Here is what they are saying:
Angelina Jolie is focusing on those displaced, refugees
Actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie took to Instagram and said she’s “praying for the people in Ukraine.”
“My focus along with my @refugees colleagues is that everything possible is done to ensure the protection and basic human rights of those displaced, and refugees in the region. We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety,” Jolie continued her statement. “It is too soon to know what will happen, but the significance of this moment – for the people of Ukraine, and for the international rule of law – cannot be overstated.”
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Meghan McCain is ‘disgusted’
Meghan McCain shared a “Free Ukraine” photo on her Instagram and expressed her disdain for those in support of Russia’s invasion.
“I am nothing short of disgusted with the abject Putin propaganda coming out of so many people within the GOP and conservative media,” McCain wrote. “Who the hell are you people, and what has happened to the values our party was designed under? We are the party of freedom and democracy, the party of America first, America leads the world, the party of justice, the party of Ronald Reagan…”
The former “View” co-host said the citizens of Ukraine are entitled to living in a free democracy.
“If Ukraine falls, the signals sent globally will be cataclysmic – expect China to invade Taiwan next. A threat to democracy anywhere, is a threat to democracy everywhere. That is not war mongering, it’s the stark reality of our geopolitics,” McCain wrote. “Some of you should really be taking a hard look about what exactly you stand for and why you’re so hypnotized by Vladimir Putin. I won’t forget, history won’t forget where you were in this moment.”
Miley Cyrus is ‘standing in solidarity’
Miley Cyrus shared a statement to her Twitter noting she was “heartbroken” by the events taking place in Ukraine. She reflected on her time in Kyiv filming “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” and recounted how kind Ukrainians were to her.
“There are local reports that at least 40 Ukrainians have been killed already, and this conflict can lead to many more deaths, another refugee crisis with so many forced to flee their homes and more,” Cyrus wrote. “I am standing in solidarity with everyone in Ukraine who is affected by this attack and with our global community who is calling for an immediate end to this violence.”
Former ‘DWTS’ choreographer shares stories from Ukraine
Former Ukrainian “Dancing With the Stars” choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy shared a video to Instagram letting his followers know that he’s in Ukraine and currently safe, but he’s not planning on evacuating the country.
“I’m going to do my best to make sure that I’m safe as possible, but I’m not moving towards the border currently. I heard it’s not safe and unfortunately some of my friends are right now on the road to Polish borders, but they’re also reporting that it’s quite dangerous,” Chmerkovskiy said.
Chmerkovskiy’s wife Peta Murgatroyd asked social media to pray for her husband and his safety.
“My pain is overwhelming and I’m struggling, but you sending your positive light and love to him would mean the world to me… many of you are asking for details and I don’t have the answers, but yes, he is safe now,” Murgatroyd wrote before asking her followers to pray for both the people of Ukraine and Chmerkovskiy.
Mark Ruffalo sends love and prayers
Mark Ruffalo took to Twitter to send “love and good prayers to all innocent people of Ukraine and Russia and Europe who are caught up in this sad and corrosive moment of asymmetrical violence and destruction, especially the young people.”
“You have done nothing to deserve this perversion and obscene spectacle.”
Contributing: Luciana Lopez, Maureen Groppe and Kim Hjelmgaard
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