'This is an illegal war' Arnold Schwarzenegger sends emotional message to Russians, Putin over war [Watch]

Arnold Schwarzenegger appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to end the "senseless" war in Ukraine and expressed admiration for Russians protesting the conflict as his "new heroes."

"Ukraine did not start this war," Arnold Schwarzenegger said in an emotional video message to the people of Russia and Russian troops shared on his official Twitter handle.

Here's the video:

"I'm speaking to you today because there are things going on in the world that are being kept from you, terrible things that you should know about," former California governor said in the video.

The former bodybuilding champion, whose film "Red Heat" was the first American movie filmed in Moscow's Red Square, spoke of his fondness for the Russian people and meeting his hero, Russia’s weightlifter Yuri Vlasov, when he was 14 years old.

"The strength and the heart of the Russian people have always inspired me," he said. "That is why I hope that you will let me tell you the truth about the war in Ukraine."

"I know that your government has told you that this is a war to do 'de-Nazify' Ukraine," he said. "This is not true. Those in power in the Kremlin started this war. This is not the Russian people's war."

The 74-year-old said "the world has turned against Russia because of its actions in Ukraine -- whole city blocks have been flattened by Russian artillery and bombs, including a children's hospital and a maternity hospital."

"Because of its brutality, Russia is now isolated from the society of nations," he said.

Making a plea to Russian troops, Arnold Schwarzenegger called to mind the wounds suffered by his father while fighting for the Nazis in Russia during World War II.

"He was broken physically and mentally and lived the rest of his life in pain," he said. "To the Russian troops listening to this broadcast... 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," he said. "This is an illegal war. Your lives, your limbs, your futures have been sacrificed for a senseless war condemned by the entire world."

Holding forth to Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, Arnold Schwarzenegger said: "You started this war. You are leading this war. You can stop this war."

He winded up the video message with praise for Russians risking arrest by protesting against the ongoing war in Ukraine.

"The world has seen your bravery," he said. "You are my new heroes."

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