THIS is the heartbreaking moment a group of sobbing Russian soldiers apologised for the deaths of “civilians and children” in Ukraine.

During an emotional press conference on Sunday, the captured pilots slammed Vladimir Putin’s “treacherous invasion.”

According to reports, the seven army reconnaissance officers were shot down in Ukrainian airspace last week.

Later, they were given the opportunity to speak with journalists from the Interfax Ukraine News Agency and apologise for their country’s actions.

Galkin Sergey Alekseevich, one of the soldiers, stated: “I apologise for our invasion of these lands on behalf of myself, my squad, and every home, every street, and every Ukrainian citizen, including the elderly, women, and children.

“I deeply regret our treacherous invasion.

“I’d like to say one thing to the generalship of our military units: they’ve acted cowardly, they’ve acted traitorously to us.”

The 34-year-old from Roschchinsky, Russia, then pleaded with Putin to “stop sending soldiers” to kill in Ukraine.

With a microphone in front of him and flanked by his comrades on either side, he urged his country to lay down its arms.

“I would like to address all regiments of the Russian army and tell them to lay down their arms,” Mr Alekseevich said.

“And Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin orders a halt to further combat operations.”

“Stop bombings, stop sending troops here to kill civilians and conduct airstrikes.”

His desperate plea comes after demoralised Russian soldiers begged to return home in intercepted calls to their families last week, claiming they were being “massacred” in Ukraine.

One shaken soldier sobbed as kind-hearted Ukrainians assisted him in calling his mother.

Another said he and his comrades were “cannon fodder,” and that he would “do anything” to return home.

Yesterday, an entire CITY in Ukraine was wiped out as the horrific battle rages on.

Russian forces have also been accused of shooting women and children, killing seven civilians who were attempting to flee a village near Kyiv.

Separatists backed by Russia claimed to have taken the strategic city of Volnovakha, which is roughly the size of Truro in Cornwall.

The governor of the Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said most civilians in Volnovakha had fled, but there was little left of the city.

“In general, Volnovakha and its infrastructure do not exist,” he said.

It comes after a defiant Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Russia will only take Kyiv if Vladimir Putin’s troops “raze it to the ground,” as the Ukrainian capital braces for a siege.

As Russian forces close in on the capital, brave Ukrainian soldiers set up tank traps in the streets to repel invaders.

Putin’s troops are closing in on the city, believed to be just 15 miles away, as terrified Ukrainians flee their homes.