Branson comedian Yakov Smirnoff will hold a benefit comedy show this Saturday in Springfield to raise money for Ukrainian refugees.
Although he’s known as being from Russia, Smirnoff is actually from Odesa, Ukraine.
He came to the U.S. in the 1970s.
Smirnoff says he would like to see the U.S. do more to help the Ukrainian refugees.
“All the countries (have) opened up for refugees. Except America. We’re not accepting Ukrainian refugees. My family, my wife’s family would like to come. They can’t. So to me it’s like, why are we stoking that fire when we can’t really help.”
He tells KSGF Mornings with Nick Reed that he’s impressed with the way former comedian and current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is leading his country during the Russian invasion.
“I don’t know if he would say today ‘I really should have stuck with the movies’,” he jokes. “But he very much is trying to play this role against this very, very tough situation.”
Smirnoff will hold a benefit comedy show this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Second Baptist Church in Springfield.
The show is about creating love and laughter for couples in their personal lives.
The money raised will go to Convoy of Hope to help Ukrainian refugees.
