Zelensky, speaking in their language, appeals to Russians to end the war.

President Zelensky on Tuesday stepped up his appeals to Russian soldiers and citizens appalled by the war. He sought to step up pressure on the Kremlin by communicating directly to Russians in Russian.

He praised the courage of a Russian state television employee who burst onto the live broadcast of Russia’s most-watched news show on Monday to protest the war.

“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,” Mr. Zelensky said.

He told Russian soldiers that Ukrainian intelligence could listen in on their communications and that it knew about any misgivings they had about the war.

“You will not take anything from Ukraine. You will take lives,” he said. “But your life will also be taken.” He promised all soldiers who surrender that they would be treated with dignity.

“Choose,” he said.