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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Matthew Dresch

High profile allies abandoning Putin - actors, sport stars and world leaders

Vladimir Putin has faced a huge backlash at home and abroad after invading Ukraine, including from some of his most ardent supporters.

Hollywood director Oliver Stone is one of many celebrities who have rowed back on their support for the despot in the Kremlin.

Mr Stone tweeted: "Although the US has many wars of aggression on its conscience, it doesn't justify Mr Putin's aggression in Ukraine. A dozen wrongs don't make a right... Russia was wrong to invade."

Russian sports stars likewise shared their opposition to the invasion, despite the risks that come with speaking out against Putin.

Formerly pro-Kremlin world leaders, including the heads of Hungary and the Czech Republic, have also broken ranks with Putin by condemning Russia's attack.

It comes as Ukrainian forces continue to fiercely resist the Russian invasion, with reports of low morale among Putin's soldiers.

Want all the latest news and analysis from Ukraine? Sign up to our World News Bulletin here

Hollywood director Oliver Stone, who previously praised Vladimir Putin, has condemned the invasion (ALEXEY DRUZHINYN/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Athletes

Scores of Russian sports stars have come out in opposition to Putin's war, calling for an end to the conflict.

Tennis player Andrey Rublev wrote the words 'No war please' on a camera lens after winning a match in Dubai last month.

Meanwhile, figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva said she hoped 'this all ends as soon as possible, like a bad dream' in an Instagram story.

Tennis player Andrey Rublev wrote the words 'No war please' on a camera lens (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

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NHL ice hockey star Alex Ovechkin, who has vehemently supported Putin in the past, also begged 'Please, no more war'.

He told reporters: "I have lots of friends in Russia and Ukraine and it's hard to see the war. I hope soon it's going to be over and there's going to be peace in the whole world.

"Please, no more war. It doesn't matter who's in the war, Russia, Ukraine, different countries. I think we live in a world, we have to live in peace."

Russian NHL star Alexander Ovechkin also called for 'no more war' (USA TODAY Sports)

World leaders and politicians

Former SNP leader Alex Salmond previously shared his admiration for Putin and had a show on the Kremlin's state broadcaster Russia Today.

However, he has now suspended his programme and says he will not continue until 'peace is re-established' in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic's president Miloš Zeman backtracked on his support for Putin by condemning the assault on Ukraine.

Alex Salmond has suspended his Russia Today show and will not resume it until peace is re-established (PA)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, previously a close ally of Putin, likewise joined the chorus of opposition to Russia's attack.

In a similar move, Marine Le Pen, a French far-right leader, tried to distance herself from the Russian despot and called the attack “unjustifiable without reservations".

And former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, a supporter of Putin in the past, slammed military aggression against Ukraine and called for a “common response from allies".

Viktor Orban, previously a close ally of Putin, likewise joined the chorus of opposition to Russia's attack (REUTERS)

Actors

French actor Gerard Depardieu, who embraced his pal Putin after receiving Russian citizenship, described the war as "fratricidal" and urged his friend to start negotiations.

Russian comedian Ivan Urgant, who has a late-night show on state TV, shared a black square on Instagram and wrote “Fear and pain. NO TO WAR".

Another comedian, Maxim Galkin, the husband of singer Alla Pugacheva - Russia’s biggest celebrity, also voiced his opposition to the war.

He said: “I can’t find the words to say what I feel! How can this be possible! There can be no justification for war! No to war!”

Journalists

Russia's Channel 1 editor Marina Ovsyannikova stormed a live TV news broadcast with a ‘No War’ placard.

She was fined 30,000 rubles or £214 for warning viewers not to believe the "propaganda" being broadcast.

Before she stormed the news segment it appeared she recorded a video where she apologised for her work on Russian state TV and blamed Putin for the war.

Meanwhile another journalist, Liliya Gildeyeva, resigned from Gazprom-Media's NTV channel.

She told blogger Ilya Varlamov: "At first I left, I was afraid they wouldn't let me go, then I wrote my resignation letter."

Channel 1's Paris correspondent Zhanna Agalakova has also reportedly resigned.

Marina Ovsyannikova was fined for her protest on Russian TV (AFP via Getty Images)

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Others

World number five chess player Yan Nepomniachtchi, from Russia, also shared a 'say no to war' message.

On the day of Russia's invasion, he tweeted: “History has seen many Black Thursdays. But today is blacker than the others. #saynotowar.”

One of Russia’s richest billionaires Mikhail Fridman called for the “bloodshed to end", while famed test pilot Alexander Garnaev also slammed the attack on Ukraine.

Mr Garnaev, who has been honoured as a Hero of the Russian Federation, said it was a war on “brotherly Slavic people”.

Liza Peskova, the daughter of Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, joined the protest against the war by sharing a 'no to war' image on social media.

Beloved Russian singer Valery Meladze “begged” Russia to stop the conflict, while Eurovision star Svetlana Loboda added: “My heart is broken... Lord, stop all this! I’m just crying.”

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