Arnold Schwarzenegger called the people on the streets of Russia protesting President Vladimir Putin his “new heroes”.
The ‘Terminator’ star praised the “bravery” on display from people who have spoken out against the Russian leader after he ordered troops to invade the neighbouring country of Ukraine last month.
In a nine-minute video shared to the former Governor of California’s Twitter account on Thursday (17.03.22), the 74-year-old former actor said: "The world has seen your bravery. We know that you have suffered the consequences of your courage. You have been arrested. You have been jailed, and you have been beaten. You are my new heroes."
Arnold accompanied the video with a caption that read: I love the Russian people. That is why I have to tell you the truth. Please watch and share."
The 'Eraser' star also shared about the “pain from the guilt” his late father Gustav Schwarzenegger felt after fighting for the German side of the Second World War.
He said: “[My father] was injured at Leningrad and the Nazi army he was part of did vicious harm to the great city and to its brave people.
“When my father arrived in Leningrad, he was all pumped up on the lies of his government…
“When he left Leningrad, he was broken – physically and mentally. He lived the rest of his life in pain. Pain from a broken back, pain from the shrapnel that always reminded him of those terrible years. And pain from the guilt that he felt, appealing to the Russian army to become “broken” like his father, who believed the propaganda of the Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party.
“To the Russian soldiers listening to this broadcast, you already know much of the truth that I’m speaking. You’ve seen it in your own eyes. I don’t want you to be broken like my father.”
Arnold - who began the first Western actor to film in the former Soviet Union when he made the movie ‘Red Heat’ in 1988 - urged the 69-year-old Head of State to “stop this war” after the conflict has lead to the the death of an unconfirmed amount of civilians, destroyed towns and cities and millions of refugees.
