Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he’s “grateful” to Russians who “are not afraid to protest” and who “tell the truth” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, writes CNN.

“I am grateful to those Russians who do not stop trying to convey the truth. To those who fight disinformation and tell the truth, real facts to their friends and loved ones”, - he said in a Telegram video.

Zelensky also spoke directly about Maria Ovsyannikova, the Russia Channel One employee who held an anti-war sign, to interrupt one of Russia’s major state television broadcast news programs in prime time on Monday.

“NO WAR. Stop the war. Do not believe propaganda they tell you lies here”, - the sign read. “Russians against war”, the last line of the sign said in English.

Zelensky thanked Ovsyannikova following her protest.

“And personally to the woman who entered the studio of Channel One with a poster against the war”, - he said.

“To those who are not afraid to protest. As long as your country has not completely closed itself off from the whole world, turning into a very large North Korea, you must fight. You must not lose your chance”.

Ovsyannikova’s lawyer, Dmitry Zakhvatov, told CNN earlier that he is unable to find his client, despite reports she is in Moscow’s Ostankino Police station.