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Ukraine crisis: Thousands march in Moscow anti-war rally | Ukraine crisis: Thousands march in Moscow anti-war rally |
(35 minutes later) | |
Tens of thousands of people are marching in Moscow in protest against Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict. | Tens of thousands of people are marching in Moscow in protest against Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict. |
People are chanting "No to war!" and "Stop lying!" Similar rallies are taking place in St Petersburg and other Russian cities. | People are chanting "No to war!" and "Stop lying!" Similar rallies are taking place in St Petersburg and other Russian cities. |
Ukraine accuses Russia of arming rebels in the east and sending Russian troops across the border. Moscow denies this. | Ukraine accuses Russia of arming rebels in the east and sending Russian troops across the border. Moscow denies this. |
More than 3,000 people have died in fighting since April. | More than 3,000 people have died in fighting since April. |
A truce was agreed on 5 September but there have been repeated violations since then. | A truce was agreed on 5 September but there have been repeated violations since then. |
The fighting began after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in March - a move condemned by Ukraine and the West. | The fighting began after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in March - a move condemned by Ukraine and the West. |
Demonstrators - with both Russian and Ukrainian flags - are marching from Pushkin Square to Sakharov Boulevard in central Moscow. | Demonstrators - with both Russian and Ukrainian flags - are marching from Pushkin Square to Sakharov Boulevard in central Moscow. |
Organisers earlier said they hoped up to 50,000 people would take part to denounce what they described as Russia's "aggressive foreign policy". | Organisers earlier said they hoped up to 50,000 people would take part to denounce what they described as Russia's "aggressive foreign policy". |
Police have stepped up security, but so far there are no reports of serious violence. | Police have stepped up security, but so far there are no reports of serious violence. |
It is Russia's first major anti-war rally since the fighting began five months ago in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | It is Russia's first major anti-war rally since the fighting began five months ago in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
A number of supporters of the pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine held their own rally in Moscow. | A number of supporters of the pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine held their own rally in Moscow. |
Earlier on Sunday, Gen Philip Breedlove, Nato's supreme commander in Europe, said the ceasefire between the Ukrainian government and the separatists currently existed "in name only". | Earlier on Sunday, Gen Philip Breedlove, Nato's supreme commander in Europe, said the ceasefire between the Ukrainian government and the separatists currently existed "in name only". |
He said the numbers of artillery rounds fired recently was comparable to periods before the truce came into effect two weeks ago. | He said the numbers of artillery rounds fired recently was comparable to periods before the truce came into effect two weeks ago. |
"The situation in Ukraine is not good right now. | "The situation in Ukraine is not good right now. |
"The number of events, and the number of rounds fired and the artillery used across the past few days match some of the pre-ceasefire levels. The ceasefire is still there in name, but what is happening on the ground is quite a different story," he added. | "The number of events, and the number of rounds fired and the artillery used across the past few days match some of the pre-ceasefire levels. The ceasefire is still there in name, but what is happening on the ground is quite a different story," he added. |
Gen Breedlove said that since last week, some Russian forces inside Ukraine had returned to Russia but remained available to "bring their military force to bear on Ukraine". | Gen Breedlove said that since last week, some Russian forces inside Ukraine had returned to Russia but remained available to "bring their military force to bear on Ukraine". |
He added, however, that he was "hopeful" about a new agreement - the so-called memorandum - signed in the early hours of Saturday. | He added, however, that he was "hopeful" about a new agreement - the so-called memorandum - signed in the early hours of Saturday. |
That deal envisages the creation of a 30km (19 miles) buffer zone and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry. | That deal envisages the creation of a 30km (19 miles) buffer zone and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry. |
Meanwhile, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said government forces would pull back from the buffer zone only if the rebels and Russian troops did the same thing. | Meanwhile, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said government forces would pull back from the buffer zone only if the rebels and Russian troops did the same thing. |
Minsk memorandum: Key points | Minsk memorandum: Key points |
Are you in Ukraine? How is the conflict affecting you? You can email your experiences to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in Ukraine? How is the conflict affecting you? You can email your experiences to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |