Russian Oligarch Turns Back On Putin By Calling For Immediate End To Ukraine Invasion

Russia's own 'man of steel' - billionaire Vladimir Lisin - has called for a peaceful end to the Ukrainian invasion.

Lisin is chairman and main shareholder of steelmaker NLMK and he's sent a message to staff about his thoughts on the tragedy that has been unfolding over the past few days.

He said the lives lost in Russia's assault against Ukraine are 'a tragedy that was hard to justify' and has called for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

Oligarch Vladimir Lisin is calling for immediate end to Putin’s War. RU Steel Maker NLMK Group sent letter to their staff, which was widely shared. Steel Tycoon Lisin wrote, “The death of people in Ukraine is a tragedy that is hard to justify or explain.” https://t.co/0CQV7y3hEv pic.twitter.com/QtBcEq266x

— Kathy Irwin (@BOBOWATO) March 8, 2022

The letter was later posted to social media by a company employee and NLMK later verified the authenticity of it.

Lisin isn't the only Russian oligarch turning their back on the Kremlin following the Ukrainian invasion.

Russian industrial tycoon Oleg Deripaska, who is known to have close links to Vladimir Putin, called for the war in Ukraine to end 'as soon as possible'.

"We need peace as soon as possible, as we have already passed the point of no return...The entire world will be different, Russia will be different as well," Deripaska said on social media.

We need peace as soon as possible, as we have already passed the point of no return - and this is the second point I agree with. The entire world will be different, Russia will be different as well.

— Oleg Deripaska (@DeripaskaOleg) March 7, 2022

Businessman and banker Oleg Tinkov revealed he is now no longer a billionaire after losing more than $5 billion as Putin's war saw sanctions imposed on Russia and Russian oligarchs.

Tinkov's revelation comes after he and three other Russians - Mikhail Fridman, Pyotr Aven, and Aleksei Mordashov - were targeted by Western sanctions.

All three have now publicly called for an end to the hostilities.

Fridman, who was born in Ukraine before the collapse of the Soviet Union, also wrote a letter to his staff calling for the 'bloodshed to end'.

💵Billionaire Mikhail Fridman lives in the £65m Athlone House, backing onto Hampstead Heath

🇷🇺He’s one of the few oligarchs to publicly criticise the war, but has still faced sanctions after the EU labelled him an ‘enabler of Putin’s inner circle.’ pic.twitter.com/hmdlZIJvpp

— My London (@myldn) March 7, 2022

"My parents are Ukrainian citizens and live in Lviv, my favourite city," Fridman wrote.

"But I have also spent much of my life as a citizen of Russia, building and growing businesses. I am deeply attached to Ukrainian and Russian peoples and see the current conflict as a tragedy for them both.

"This crisis will cost lives and damage two nations who have been brothers for hundreds of years. While a solution seems frighteningly far off, I can only join those whose fervent desire is for the bloodshed to end."

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.