In Pics: From New York to Japan, anti-war demonstrations take over the streets
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 -- while more than a thousand who tried to do the same in Russia were arrested.
Let's take a look:
Russia
In Russia, protesters defied an official warning that explicitly threatened criminal prosecution and even jail time for those calling for or taking part in protests.
Hundreds rallied in cities including Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, chanting slogans such as "No to war!" 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.
(Photograph:AFP)
United States, Washington
The earliest known protest occurred outside Russia's 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 "Stop Russian aggression!"
(Photograph:AFP)
United States, New York
A giant flag was carried through Manhattan's Times Square by a crowd of several hundred protesters.
People also gathered at the Russian mission during a "Stand With Ukraine" rally on February 24, 2022 in New York City. Ukrainians, Ukrainian-Americans and allies gathered to show support for Ukraine and protest against the Russian invasion.
(Photograph:AFP)
Paris, France
Protesters wave Ukrainian flags and gather around the Monument a la Republique as they attend a demonstration called by the Union of Ukrainians in France (Union des Ukrainiens de France) and others associations on Republique square in Paris
Talking to Reuters one demonstrator said: "I feel that we are in a very dangerous moment for the whole world."
(Photograph:AFP)
Spain, Madrid
In Madrid, Oscar-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem, nominated for another Academy Award this year, joined about a hundred protesters outside the Russian embassy.
"It is an invasion. ... It violates Ukraine's fundamental right to territorial sovereignty, international law, and many other things," Bardem said.
(Photograph:AFP)
United Kingdoms, London
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.
"We need help, we need someone to support us," said one. "Ukraine is too small and the pressure is too big."
(Photograph:AFP)
