Russians living in New Zealand are experiencing a rise in hostility and abuse following the invasion of Ukraine.
Dennis Vlasin, a Russian living in New Zealand, told AM on Monday he knows of some kids getting bullied because they're Russian.
"My own kids are too young to go to school but from my own friends, I've heard their children were bullied because they are Russian and asked, 'Why are you so aggressive? Why do you attack Ukraine? You are bad' and some really rude words," he told AM.
"People were coming back home in tears and parents were crying as well. They have started conversations with principals and teachers and it's kind of a really bad thing happening now."
Vlasin said a lot of Russians moved here because of the decisions Vladimir Putin has made.
He told AM many Russians in New Zealand are trying to support each other and show their support for Ukrainians.
"We never voted for this Government but we still feel kind of responsible for it but I'm not sure if this is the correct feeling anyway," Vlasin told AM.
"We are trying to support each other through different groups, plenty of Russians are going to these friendly meetings with Ukrainians - stop the war in Ukraine. We support each other all the time, we spread information and we are trying to do as much as we can to support each other."
Vlasin is the founder of Kiwi Education where he tries to help people move from overseas to settle in New Zealand and said the amount of inquiries from people in Russia has increased "significantly".
"People want to come here, they have been planning to come here to New Zealand for some time, but now they want to speed up the process obviously. They want to come desperately, for both Russians and Ukrainians."
At least 596 people, including 43 children, have been killed since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the United Nations said. An additional 1067 civilians, including 57 children, were wounded as of midnight on Saturday (local time).
On Sunday, Russian missiles hit a large Ukrainian base near the border with NATO member Poland killing 35 people and wounding 134 a local official said.
An American journalist was shot and killed by Russian forces in the town of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, and another journalist was wounded on Sunday, the regional police chief said.
Watch the full interview above.
