Hayden Panettiere says her daughter Kaya Klitschko, 7, is 'safe and not in Ukraine ' after Russia's invasion.
The 32-year-old actress shares the youngster with ex-fiancé and former heavyweight champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko, who hails from Ukraine.
The 45-year-old’s brother Vitali Klitschko - also a former boxer - is the mayor of the country’s capital Kyiv, and both have vowed to stay and fight Russian forces invading the city.
The Nashville star took to Instagram to share an emotional post condemning Russian president Vladmir Putin, alongside a photo of her smiling and hugging a local while in Ukraine.
“I have personally witnessed the strength of the Ukrainian people who fought so hard for their independence and have continued to passionately defend their country over the years," Hayden began.
"This horrific moment in history sends a terrifying message: the message that in this day and age, in year 2022, it's okay to violate the rights of free people and allow autocrats like Putin to take whatever they please,” she continued.
Hayden said she is “praying” for her family and friends who are in the country, and she wished she was “there fighting with you!”
Her followers heaped praise on her support for Ukraine in the comments, but several concerned fans asked where her daughter was, as they feared she was in the country with her father.
“Please tell me that your daughter is currently stateside and not with her dad during this…” they asked.
“She's safe and not in Ukraine,” Hayden replied, refusing to give further details regarding her daughter’s location.
Hayden and Wladimir began dating in 2009, but split in 2011, before reconciling once again in 2013.
They soon announced their engagement, and Hayden gave birth to their daughter in 2014, but the ex-boxer’s mother confirmed they had split in 2018, but remained close friends.
Kaya lives primarily with her father in Ukraine, and the actress stays in regular contact with the youngster as she and Wladimir co-parent.
“We’re still respectful of each other, and we still have that friendship with each other,” she said in 2019.
“It’s not a situation that you find yourself in all that often, so it’s a new one. But I think we’ve done a really good job.
Hayden bravely spoke about her battle with postnatal depression, and voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility in 2015.
“It’s something that’s completely uncontrollable. It’s really painful and it’s really scary and women need a lot of support,” she told Entertainment Tonight at the time.
Hayden sought help once again in 2016, as she asked her fans to “wish me luck” as she said the postnatal depression was affecting “every aspect” of her life.
