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Hayden Panettiere and former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko had an on-and-off relationship that lasted for years earlier than finally going their separate methods. Throughout their romance, the previous couple welcomed daughter Kaya in 2014 and later remained dedicated to co-parenting after their cut up.
Over time, Panettiere has sometimes opened up about their relationship and household dynamic, together with throughout a 2022 interview with People, the place she spoke about Klitschko and their daughter residing in Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion. “We’ve been working hand-in-hand,” she stated on the time. “He’s busy combating, so each time I get to listen to his voice or get a textual content, it’s a aid.”
Although their romantic relationship ended, the pair have continued supporting each other whereas elevating Kaya collectively. Discover out extra about Hayden and Wladimir’s relationship, each previous and current, beneath.
Hayden Panettiere & Wladimir Klitschko First Met in 2008

Hayden and Wladimir, who’s a Ukrainian former skilled boxer, first met in 2008. The Scream 4 star stated she and her future boyfriend went to a celebration for a mutual pal, in a 2013 interview with Ellen DeGeneres. She admitted to speaking to him first. “You’re large,” she hilariously instructed him. “You’re tiny,” he responded.
They Began Relationship in 2009
Though Hayden was relationship actor Milo Ventimiglia when she first met Wladimir, they broke up in 2009. She and the hunk then reconnected and began their romance. It’s not clear precisely when their relationship started, however they have been seen collectively that yr and the remaining was historical past.
Hayden & Wladimir Break up for the First Time in 2011
The couple referred to as it quits after nearly two years of relationship in Could 2011. “Though we’ve determined splitting up is greatest for each of us, now we have a tremendous quantity of affection and respect for one another and stay very shut pals,” Hayden stated on the time. Wladimir additionally spoke out in regards to the breakup.
“We had a good time collectively, but it surely’s not that simple to handle a relationship between two continents,” he stated in an announcement. “I’ve plenty of respect for Hayden as an individual and as a pal, and I imagine we’ll hold our friendship even after the separation.”
They Rekindled Their Romance in 2013

Hayden and Wladimir have been first seen as soon as once more hanging out in public in Feb. 2013. They have been having lunch at a taco restaurant in in Hollywood, FL, and have been then reportedly displaying off PDA on a seashore. The outing occurred two months after Hayden broke up along with her boyfriend of over a yr, New York Jets vast receiver Scotty McKnight.
Hayden & Wladimir Confirmed Their Engagement in 2013
Though rumors of an engagement have been swirling all yr after Hayden was seen sporting what regarded like an engagement ring, she didn’t announce that she and Wladimir have been planning on strolling down the aisle till her interview on Dwell! With Kelly and Michael in Oct. 2013. “There’s a really massive diamond ring in your ring finger. … I’m unsure if you wish to announce something. Does that signify something, is {that a} promise of one thing?” Kelly requested the sweetness. “It is likely to be … I imply, I believe it speaks for itself,” Hayden responded earlier than saying “I’m” after Kelly then straight up requested, “Are you engaged?”
Hayden later opened up about Wladimir’s candy proposal, in a 2014 interview with Brides. It was “very candy and easy and real,” she instructed the outlet. “It wasn’t about being overwhelmed by fireworks or a mariachi band. I believe it’s superb when folks do this, however I like that mine was easy and from the guts.”
“I’ve at all times dreamed of a marriage day!” she continued. “Not excessive or loopy, however yeah, I’ve at all times thought of it. It’s a kind of issues you must simply cross your fingers and hope all the things will go clean. You’ll plan and plan and on the finish of day you simply need to sit back and see what occurs.”
They Purchased a Dwelling Collectively in Nashville

On the time, Hayden was filming the present, Nashville, within the metropolis and when it turned profitable, she thought it will be excellent to buy a house within the location along with her future husband. She spoke of the normalcy of their life after they moved into the home, in an interview with Southern Dwelling. “I like being in a spot the place folks recognize the little issues and don’t want plenty of stuff to be pleased,” she stated. “Dwelling in Nashville provides me a way of normalcy that I wasn’t positive I used to be ever going to get again in my life.”
Hayden & Wladimir Welcomed Daughter Kaya in 2014
Six months after experiences first introduced they have been anticipating, the pair turned mother and father to their little woman and shared photographs with Individuals simply a short while later. “He’s simply so over the moon,” Hayden instructed the outlet about Wladimir as a dad. “I’m fortunate if I can get my arms on the child. He’s like, ‘No, no, I obtained her.’ Which is strictly what I believed he could be like.”
Hayden Panettiere Sought Therapy for Postpartum Despair in 2015
“It’s one thing plenty of ladies expertise. When [you’re told] about postpartum melancholy you assume it’s ‘I really feel detrimental emotions in direction of my youngster, I need to injure or harm my youngster.’ I’ve by no means, ever had these emotions,” she stated about her struggles with new motherhood, on Dwell! With Kelly and Michael in Sept. 2015. “Some ladies do. However you don’t notice how broad of a spectrum you’ll be able to actually expertise that on. It’s one thing that must be talked about. Girls must know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal.”
The subsequent yr, she was noticed with out her engagement ring, and when rumors that she and Wladimir cut up started to start out, she took to the web to dismiss them. “Lacking rings don’t imply the top of relationships,” she wrote alongside a photograph of her and Wladimir with their lovable daughter. “Blessed to be with my lovely household.”
Hayden & Wladimir Break up in 2018
Hayden was noticed holding arms with Brian Hickerson in Los Angeles, CA and her mother was fast to substantiate that her relationship with Wladimir had ended. “There are plenty of modifications occurring in her life,” Lesley Vogel instructed RadarOnline. “She must take a bit little bit of a break and make some selections on her personal of what she needs to do. So I believe she is in an excellent place.”
It was additionally confirmed that Kaya had moved to Ukraine along with her dad after the cut up. Lesly stated the mother and father have been pleased co-parenting her and have been on good phrases.
Hayden Opened Up About Co-Parenting Kaya in 2022
In 2022, Hayden admitted she was going by way of struggles with substance abuse and melancholy on the time of her cut up from Wladimir, and though she was in search of remedy, it was a part of the explanation their romance ended. She stated it was additionally the explanation she let Kaya transfer to Ukraine.
“I by no means had the sensation that I needed to hurt my youngster, however I didn’t need to spend any time along with her,” she defined earlier than opening up about Wladimir’s alleged emotions. “He didn’t need to be round me. I didn’t need to be round me. However with the opiates and alcohol I used to be doing something to make me really feel pleased for a second. Then I’d really feel worse than I did earlier than. I used to be in a cycle of self-destruction.”
“It was the toughest factor I might do,” she added, referring to letting Kaya transfer away. “However the most effective factor for my daughter was to verify she was okay, handle myself and ensure I might be a very good mother to her. And typically which means letting go.”
In Feb. 2022, the doting mom additionally confirmed that Kaya was “protected” and “not in Ukraine” on the time of Russia’s invasion.
Hayden Panettiere Defended Her Custody Choice in 2026
In 2026, Hayden addressed criticism surrounding her determination to permit daughter Kaya to stay full-time with Wladimir whereas she battled postpartum melancholy and dependancy. Talking on Jay Shetty’s On Objective podcast forward of her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere pushed again on claims that she had “deserted” her daughter, calling the suggestion “heartbreaking.”
Hayden defined that Kaya initially traveled forwards and backwards between Nashville and Ukraine earlier than Klitschko finally sought full custody in 2018. Although she described signing the custody papers as “one of many worst days” of her life, Hayden stated she finally believed holding Kaya in Europe was essentially the most secure selection on the time.
She additionally shared that she and Kaya nonetheless keep an in depth relationship by way of common FaceTimes, visits, and conversations, including that her daughter is now thriving in Europe and speaks 5 languages.

