Ukraine war: Ukraine will treat Russian deserters civilly, Zelensky vows

Russian soldiers who surrender to Ukraine will be treated in a "civilised manner", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Speaking in Russian - his first language - Mr Zelensky urged Russians to surrender to Ukraine rather than risk being tried as a war criminal after the conflict.

The Russian president's moves are widely seen as an attempt to regain the initiative after his forces suffered setbacks on the battlefield.

Self-styled referendums on joining Russia are continuing in four regions of Ukraine: Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

The votes would pave the way for Russia to annex the four regions.

Mr Putin's top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, said that any regions voting to join Russia would receive the country's full protection, and be bound by all laws and doctrines of Russia.

While annexation would not be recognised internationally, it could lead to Russia claiming that its territory is under attack from Western weapons supplied to Ukraine, escalating the war further.

Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets was quoted by the Baltic News Service as saying that the invasion of Ukraine was the "collective responsibility of Russian citizens" and that refusing entry to Russians would hopefully "increase discontent" in Russia?