From Ordinary Citizens To Jailed Opposition Leader Navalny, Russians Unite Against The War

Even as Russia is making rapid advances in its military action against Ukraine, a little over 24 hours after it was launched, Vladamir Putin is seeing stiff resistance, from his own people.

Despite the strict warning to Russians not to take to the streets against the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, thousands protested on Thursday soon after the televised announcement of Putin.

Reuters

As troops advanced, the Kremlin said it was certain that Russians would "support" the war and that Ukraine needed to be "liberated and cleansed of Nazis".

But with shocking scenes of death in Ukraine, many prominent figures publicly spoke out against the war on Thursday and thousands of ordinary Russians defied draconian anti-protest legislation to take to the streets across the country.

Thousands gather to protest

Several thousand people gathered near Pushkin Square in central Moscow, while up to 1,000 people gathered in the former imperial capital Saint Petersburg, according to AFP correspondents at the scene.

Reuters

Rallies also took place in dozens of other Russian cities.

"No to war"

In Moscow, protesters were seen massing around Pushkin Square chanting "No to war!"

The same slogan, "No to war" was spray-painted on the front gate of the Russian parliament's lower house.

OVD-Info, which tracks arrests at opposition rallies, said nearly 1,700 people were detained in 53 Russian cities. More than 900 were arrested in Moscow and over 400 in Saint Petersburg, the monitor said.

Reuters

Many Russians fear that the western reaction, which would mean that the country will be slapped with mote crippling sanctions could have a devastating impact on their lives.

Cutting off Russia from the SWIFT Network and other crucial supplies are some of the proposed measures by the US, EU and NATO in retaliation to the invasion of Ukraine.

Fierce opposition to invasion

Earlier, jailed Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny said also voiced his opposition to the invasion of Ukraine as he stood trial from prison.

"I am against this war," Navalny was heard saying in a video of the in-prison trial published by independent news outlet Dozhd.

"This war between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed to cover up the theft from Russian citizens and divert their attention from problems that exist inside the country," he said.

Wearing a prison uniform, Navalny said the war would "lead to a huge number of victims, destroyed futures and the continuation of this line of impoverishment of the citizens of Russia."

Russian pop stars, journalists, a television comedian and a footballer were also among the Russians who opposed the war.

AFP

Ivan Urgant, one of Russia's most famous television comedians, who wrote on Instagram: "Fear and Pain. NO TO WAR."

Maxim Galkin, a television presenter and singer, said: "I've been in touch with my relatives and friends from Ukraine since morning! I can't explain in words what I feel! How is this possible! No war can be justified! No to war!"

Others included Fedor Smolov, a footballer for Russia's national soccer team, Russia's former no. 1 tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov, chief editor of the Novaya Gazeta newspaper.

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