In his speech in Prague, Moore, the head of MI6, compared the invasion of Ukraine to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, when the Kremlin sent in tanks to crush democratic reforms. 

“There were many Russians in 1968 who saw the moral travesty of what was being done here in Prague,” Moore said. “They had no wish to be on the wrong side of history, and the bravest of them acted on their convictions by throwing in their lot with us as partners for freedom.”

He said his service would welcome Russians who are horrified by events in Ukraine. 

“I invite them to do what others have already done this past 18 months and join hands with us,” he said, promising that their secrets would be safe and that “together we will work to bring the bloodshed to an end.”

It was Moore’s second public speech since he took over as head of MI6 three years ago.

The open invitation to disaffected Russians follows a similar appeal this year from the CIA, which posted a video on social media. 

Moore said that he stood by his comments a year ago that Russia’s military effort in Ukraine was “running out of steam” and that there is now “little prospect of the Russian forces’ regaining momentum.”

Both Moore and Cleverly said that Ukraine was making steady progress in its counteroffensive against Russian forces and that it was vital that NATO allies continue to provide military assistance.

“We keep giving them tools to get the job done and we make sure that they’re able to get their country back,” Cleverly said in his interview with Nbc News.

Abigail Williams and Owen Hayes contributed.