PACIFISTS urged Home Secretary Priti Patel today to make a public offer of asylum to Russian soldiers who refuse to fight in Ukraine.

The Peace Pledge Union (PPU), which has been in contact with peace campaigners in Ukraine and Russia throughout the war, wrote to Ms Patel and PM Boris Johnson, pointing to evidence that hundreds of Russian forces personnel are questioning or disobeying orders.

Cross-party MPs have backed the PPU’s call, including SNP constitutional affairs spokesperson Tommy Sheppard.