Actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has posted a highly produced video in which he compares the U.S. Capitol riots to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Schwarzenegger says he’s sending the message through different channels in an attempt to "punch through propaganda" and reach Russian citizens and Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. He noted his long history with Russia, from traveling for movie filming and meeting bodybuilding fans — as well as his adoration for a Soviet-era weightlifter. The video comes as Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its fourth week, with no sign of a peaceful respite.
“No one likes to hear something critical of their government, I understand that,” Schwarzenegger says, alongside Russian subtitles, “But as a longtime friend of the Russian people, I hope that you will hear what I have to say.” He also includes that the Russian government lied to its people and even its own troops, calling out the brutality of the country’s actions.
According to Pentagon officials in a conservative estimate, it's reported more than 7,000 Russian troops have died in the war — far more than the 500 officially recognized by Moscow. Kyiv has so far officially acknowledged the deaths of 1,300 Ukrainian troops.