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Ukraine crisis: Thousands march in Moscow anti-war rally Ukraine crisis: Thousands march in Moscow anti-war rally
(about 7 hours 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 have marched in Moscow to 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 carrying Russian and Ukrainian flags chanted "No to war!" and "Stop lying!" Similar rallies took 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. The demonstrators marched from Pushkin Square to Sakharov Avenue 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 had 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. Moscow police said there were about 5,000 protesters but a reporter for the AP news agency estimated that the crowd was at least 20,000-strong.
Police stepped up security in the capital and there were only minor scuffles reported between rival demonstrators.
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". Social media reaction to Moscow's anti-war rally
Vladimir Varfolomeyev, a journalist from Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio station, on the anti-war march turnout: "50,000, in my view, is a conservative estimate. Most likely it was slightly bigger."
Oleg Kashin, a correspondent with Kommersant newspaper, said: "The party of peace ended up on top today. And the party of war lost. And that's fantastic."
Kristina Potupchik, a pro-Kremlin blogger, wrote: "The organisers preferred to forget the fact that there is currently a ceasefire in Ukraine, which was achieved partly due to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin personally."
"Look at this coven of orcs with flags of Nato and [Ukrainian nationalist group] Right Sector in Moscow. Does Russia need all this pestilence?" former professional boxer Nikolay Valuyev tweeted.
Source: BBC Monitoring
In Ukraine, fighting was reported to be continuing on Sunday close to the city of Donetsk despite an agreement on Friday to set up a 30km (19 miles) buffer zone as part of the Minsk memorandum.
The government in Kiev said its military forces would not pull back until pro-Russian forces stop firing and Russian troops leave. Russia denies that its forces are involved.
Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said violations of the ceasefire continued, telling reporters: "In the last 24 hours we have lost two Ukrainian soldiers, eight have been wounded."
On Saturday, Gen Philip Breedlove, Nato's supreme commander in Europe, said the ceasefire 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 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.
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.
Minsk memorandum: Key pointsMinsk memorandum: Key points
Are you in Ukraine? How is the conflict affecting you? You can email your experiences to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you in Ukraine? How is the conflict affecting you? You can email your experiences to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk