Arnold Schwarzenegger urges the Russian people to reject Kremlin disinformation.
The 74-year-old former governor of California called on Putin to stop attacks on Ukraine, saying.
On Thursday, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told the Russian people that he received misinformation about his country's attacks on Ukraine and urged President Vladimir Putin to stop the attacks.
In a nine-minute video on Twitter, the Hollywood star said the Kremlin was deliberately lying to Russia by saying the invasion was aimed at "disinfecting" Ukraine. Instead, Russia described its actions as "special operations." "Ukraine did not start this war, neither nationalist nor Nazi," he said, noting that President Vladimir Zelenskyy was Jewish. "This is not a Russian people's war."
Beginning with the story of meeting his hero, Russian world weightlifting champion Yuri Petrovich Vlasov, at the age of 14 in Vienna, Schwarzenegger describes the affection and growing admiration for the kindness of the Russian people.
Addressing citizens, troops, and leadership, he said he spoke with the same "sincere concern" to the American people since the January 6 uprising. Schwarzenegger's Twitter account has 4.9 million followers -- one of 22 followed by official Kremlin accounts.
Since World War II, the most significant invasion in Europe devastated Ukrainian cities and sent more than 3 million refugees to neighboring countries. However, it is unclear how many people in Russia knew about the war after the Kremlin blocked access to various media channels and websites.
"I like Russian people. That's why I have to tell the truth. So please watch and share," Schwarzenegger said in a tweet accompanying the video, which had garnered more than a quarter-million likes as of Thursday afternoon. Schwarzenegger urged Russia to spread information about the "human catastrophe" and told Russian protesters the world was watching. have seen your courage. We know you have suffered the consequences of your bravery," he said. "You are my new hero."
The 74-year-old Republican, who started as a bodybuilder before finding world fame in action films, called Putin to stop the invasion. He said thousands of Russian soldiers died while their leaders lied to them. Austrian-born Schwarzenegger recounts how his father, who fought for Germany in World War II, was devastated by his experiences in the Battle of Leningrad, where he was wounded. He then told the Russian soldiers that they had been lied to and that thousands of them had been killed.