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.

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.

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

"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."