The British prime minister has directly addressed Russians, partly in their own language, saying they deserve the truth and that “history will remember those who looked the other way”.

In Russian Boris Johnson: The Russian people deserve the truth, you deserve the facts”.

The message continues in English - with Russian subtitles - saying that the atrocities committed by Russian troops include civilians shot dead with their hands tied, women raped in front of their children and “bodies crudely burned, dumped in mass graves, or just left lying in the street”.

Mr Johnson adds: “The reports are so shocking, so sickening, it"s no wonder your government is seeking to hide them from you. Your president knows that if you could see what was happening, you would not support his war”.

The crimes, said the PM, “betray the trust of every Russian mother who proudly waves goodbye to her son as he heads off to join the military”. 

“And he knows they are a stain on the honour of Russia itself. A stain that will only grow larger and more indelible every day this war continues. Those responsible will be held to account. And history will remember who looked the other way”, - he said.

The message concludes in Russian: “Your president stands accused of committing war crimes. But I cannot believe he’s acting in your name”.