Japanese and Ukrainian protesters attend a rally against Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, in Tokyo, Japan, February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Protesters turned out on public squares and outside Russian embassies in cities from Tokyo to Tel Aviv and New York on Thursday to denounce the invasion of Ukraine 鈥� while more than a thousand who tried to do the same in Russia were arrested.
The earliest known protest occurred outside Russia鈥檚 embassy in Washington around 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT) on Thursday, only three hours after President Vladimir Putin said he had launched his military operation.
Local news reports showed dozens of protesters in the U.S. capital waving Ukrainian flags and chanting 鈥淪top Russian aggression!鈥�
People take part in a protest after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in New York City, U.S., February 24, 2022.聽REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
In London, hundreds of demonstrators, many of them Ukrainian and some weeping, gathered outside Downing Street, home to the prime minister, urging Britain to do more.
鈥淲e need help, we need someone to support us,鈥� said one. 鈥淯kraine is too small and the pressure is too big.鈥�
In Paris, one demonstrator told Reuters: 鈥淚 feel that we are in a very dangerous moment for the whole world.鈥�
In Madrid, Oscar-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem, nominated for another Academy Award this year, joined about a hundred protesters outside the Russian embassy.
鈥淚t is an invasion. 鈥� It violates Ukraine鈥檚 fundamental right to territorial sovereignty, international law, and many other things,鈥� Bardem said.
People attend an anti-war protest at the Place de la Republique, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in Ukraine, in Paris, France, on February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A giant flag was carried through Manhattan鈥檚 Times Square by a crowd of several hundred protesters.
In the Swiss capital Bern, hundreds gathered, holding Ukrainian flags and chanting 鈥淧eace for Ukraine!鈥�.
Agapi Tamir, 28, one of a few dozen members of Greece鈥檚 Ukrainian community who staged a protest in Athens, said:
鈥淭he only thing we believe is that a miracle will stop all this awful and frightening thing that is happening at this moment.鈥�
A small demonstration in Geneva, organized by the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) outside the U.N. European headquarters, condemned what the group said was Putin鈥檚 threat to use nuclear weapons.
Other demonstrations were held in Beirut, Tel Aviv, Dublin, and Prague.
A man displays a poster during a protest by Ukrainian people living in Switzerland, in Bern, Switzerland February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
A person holds a sign in front of Brandenburg Gate lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag during an anti-war protest, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Berlin, Germany February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Christian Mang
Also in Dublin, a Russian double-eagle crest beside the gate of the Russian embassy was defaced with red paint.
More protests were scheduled for later in the day in the U.S. cities of Houston and Denver, according to social media posts.
In Russia itself, protesters defied an official warning that explicitly threatened criminal prosecution and even jail time for those calling for or taking part in protests.
A demonstrator displays a placard during an anti-war protest, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 24, 2022. The placard reads: 鈥楴o to war in Ukraine! Return the forces home!鈥� REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
Hundreds rallied in cities including Moscow, St Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, chanting slogans such as 鈥淣o to war!鈥� and holding up makeshift signs.
By 1939 GMT, police had detained no fewer than 1,667 people in 53 cities, the OVD-Info rights monitor said. Six hundred were arrested in Moscow alone, the Tass news agency reported.
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