'If you have slightest suspicion...': Zelensky's appeal to mothers of Russian soldiers

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to mothers of Russian soldiers to “act immediately” to prevent their sons from being captured or killed in war-hit Ukraine.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday called on the mothers of Russian troops to stop their sons from entering the war as Moscow tightened its noose around Kyiv. In a video address released on Telegram, Zelensky advised mothers of Russian soldiers to “act immediately” to prevent their sons from being captured or killed in war-hit Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in Kyiv, Ukraine,. (AP)

"I want to say this once again to Russian mothers, especially mothers of conscripts. Do not send your children to war in a foreign country," the Ukraine President said.

As fighting raged northwest of Kyiv, Zelensky asked the mothers to "check where your son is. And if you have the slightest suspicion that your son could be sent to war against Ukraine, act immediately."

"Ukraine never wanted this terrible war. And Ukraine does not want it. But it will defend itself as much as necessary," he added.

Earlier this week, the Russian army admitted for the first time that conscripts were taking part in the offensive against Ukraine despite Putin’s promise to only send professional soldiers in the war zone. Since Putin's announcement of a "special military operation" in Ukraine, mothers of conscripts have been taking to social media posting requesting to look for their sons.

On Wednesday, Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that some conscripts had been captured by Ukrainian forces.

"Unfortunately, several instances of the presence of conscripts in the units of the Russian armed forces participating in the special military operation on the territory of Ukraine have been confirmed," he said.

"Almost all such servicemen have already been withdrawn to Russian territory," he said.