Hayden Panettiere plays down split rumors

Actress Hayden Panettiere has silenced rumors of a split from fiance Wladimir Klitschko after she was photographed without her engagement ring.

The Nashville star hit headlines on Monday (04Jul16), when she was spotted out in public for the first time since May (16), when she announced she was checking into a treatment center once again to tackle postpartum depression.

In the photos, taken in New York City, a casually-dressed Hayden was pictured sitting on a concrete step, reading a book while smoking, with her engagement ring noticeably missing from her left ring finger.

Her bare hand prompted speculation her health battle had taken its toll on her romance with the Ukrainian boxer, but on Thursday (07Jul16), Hayden took to Twitter.com to address the claims, sharing a black-and-white photo of herself smiling as she cradles daughter Kaya and leans against her man.

"Missing rings don't mean the end of relationships. Blessed to be with my beautiful family", she captioned the sweet family snap, alongside a praying hands emoji.

The selfie did not show Hayden's left hand, but the post suggests the couple is still very much together.

Klitschko, who has been dating the star on and off since 2009, proposed to the actress with a six-carat ring in 2013, and they welcomed little Kaya in December, 2014.

Hayden initially checked into a rehabilitation center to seek treatment for postpartum depression in October (15), and upon announcing her second stint in May (16), she tweeted, "The postpartum depression I have been experiencing has impacted every aspect of my life... Rather than stay stuck due to unhealthy coping mechanisms I have chosen to take time to reflect holistically on my health and life. Wish me luck!"

A few days after her announcement, she was spotted at a health facility in Utah, also without her engagement ring.