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Ukraine crisis: Thousands march in Moscow anti-war rally | Ukraine crisis: Thousands march in Moscow anti-war rally |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Thousands of people have marched in Moscow to protest against Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict. | |
People carrying Russian and Ukrainian flags chanted "No to war!" and "Stop lying!" Similar rallies took 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. |
Moscow police said about 5,000 protesters took part in Sunday's demonstration but a reporter for the AP news agency estimated that the crowd was at least 20,000-strong. | |
The organisers said the numbers were far higher for a march they described as a protest against Russia's "aggressive foreign policy". | |
The demonstrators marched from Pushkin Square to Sakharov Avenue in central Moscow. | The demonstrators marched from Pushkin Square to Sakharov Avenue in central Moscow. |
Police stepped up security in the capital and there were only minor scuffles reported between rival demonstrators. | 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. |
Social media reaction to Moscow's anti-war rally | 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." | 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." | 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." | 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. | "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 | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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". | 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. |
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". |
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 |