Arnold Schwarzenegger has passionately spoken out about the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Terminator actor, 74, took to social media on Thursday to urge Russia's government, military and citizens to end the violence towards their neighbouring country.
Speaking in a nine-minute video, the former Governor of California said he was a "a longtime friend of the Russian people", as he urged Vladimir Putin to stop the war in his passionate plea.
"To President Putin, I say, you started this war. You are leading this war. You can stop this war," the star directly addressed the Russian leader.
The unprovoked invasion of neighbouring Ukraine by Russian forces on the command of the Russian President has sparked bloodshed and chaos.
Since the attack begun last month, many Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homeland and seek refugee in other countries.
"I love the Russian people. That’s why I have to tell you the truth," Arnold captioned his video message across various social media platforms on Thursday.
Addressing his message to his "dear Russian friends and the Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine", the actor explained how he would be discussing some "harsh realities" throughout his broadcast.
Before proceeding, Arnold explained how he wanted to talk about "the Russian who became his hero" throughout his childhood.
The former bodybuilder recalled idolising Petrovich Vlasov, a champion weightlifter from Russia, as a young child growing up in Austria - having a picture of him up on his wall.
Arnold explained how his father - a well-known member of the Nazi party who served in World War II - didn't approve of his son supporting a Russian athlete.
"He didn't like Russians, because of his experiences in the second World War," he continued.
"My father told me to take down the picture and to find a German or Austrian hero, but I did not take down the photograph, because it didn't matter to me what flag Yuri Vlasov carried."
After sharing some more stories about his connections to Russia, he then went on the share the "harsh realities" he mentioned earlier.
"No one likes to hear something critical of their government, I understand that, but as a long-time friend of the Russian people, I hope that you will hear what I have to say," Arnold continued.
"I speak with the same heartfelt concern as I did with the American people when there was an attempted insurrection on January 6 last year, when a wild crowd was storming the US capitol trying to overthrow our government.
"I know that your government has told you that this is a war to denazify Ukraine. Denazify Ukraine? This is not true!
"Ukraine is a country with a Jewish president, a Jewish president I might add, whose father's three brothers were all murdered by the Nazis.
He continued: "You see, Ukraine did not start this war. Neither did nationalists or Nazis. Those in power in the Kremlin started this war. This is not the Russian people's war. No.
"As a matter of fact let me tell you, what you should know is that 141 nations at the UN voted that Russia was the aggressor.
"They called for it to remove its troops immediately. Only four countries in the entire world voted with Russia. That is a fact.
Arnold went on to tell Russian viewers how the world "has turned against" their country, due to actions like bombing a children's hospital and a maternity hospital.
"Three million Ukrainian refugees, mainly women, children and elderly, fled their country. And many more are trying to seek to get out. It is a humanitarian crisis," the star continued in his address.
"Because of its brutality, Russia is now isolated from the society of nations. You're also not being told the truth about the consequences of this war on Russia itself.
He continued: "I regret to tell you that thousands of Russian soldiers have been killed.
"They have been caught between Ukrainians fighting for their homeland and the Russian leadership fighting for conquest."
Later on in his address, Arnold spoke directly to any Russian soldiers who could be possibly listening to his passionate plea.
He said: To the Russian soldiers listening to this broadcast, you already know much of the truth that I have been speaking. You have seen it with your own eyes. I don't want you to be broken like my father.
"This is not the war to defend Russia, that your grandfathers or your great grandfathers fought, this is an illegal war.
"Your lives, your limbs, your futures, are being sacrificed for a senseless war condemned by the entire world.
Arnold continued: "Now to those in power in the Kremlin, let me just ask you, why would you sacrifice those young men for your own ambitions?
"To the soldiers who are listening to this, remember that 11 million Russians have family connections to Ukraine, so every bullet you shoot, you shoot a brother or a sister.
"Every bomb or every shell that falls is falling not on an enemy, but on a school, or a hospital, or a home."
The actor-turned-politician then urged listeners in Russian to spread the truth about what is happening.
"I know the Russian people are not aware such things are happening so I urge the Russian people and Russian soldiers in Ukraine to understand the propaganda and the disinformation that you are being told," Arnold explained.
"I ask you to help me spread the truth. Let your fellow Russians know the human catastrophe that is happening in Ukraine."
Russia began a military invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict that had begun in 2014.
Latest figures estimate more than three million people have now fled Ukraine because of the military invasion, according to the United Nations (UN).
