The UN ambassador for space has said Winston Churchill was a racist responsible for “atrocities”, and apologised for quoting the wartime leader in a tweet.

Scott Kelly came under fire from anti-racism activists after tweeting on Sunday: “One of the greatest leaders of modern times, Sir Winston Churchill said, in victory, magnanimity.

“I guess those days are over.”

This triggered hundreds of replies from his followers, as they blamed Churchill for the Bengal famine of 1943 and compared the late prime minister to Adolf Hitler, who he helped defeat.

One Twitter user wrote: “Sir with all due respect, Winston Churchill is just as good as Hitler.” Another said: “With due respect Astronaut Kelly, Winston Churchill is NOT the greatest leaders of the Modern times especially when he was responsible for the Bengal Famine of 1943. Not many in the West perhaps know this. I would probably say he was one of the greatest Orators of modern times.”

Responding, the former NASA astronaut, who has commanded three International Space Station Expeditions, publicly apologised.