Thousands in Tel Aviv rallied on Saturday in support of Ukraine as fighting in the country intensified. The protesters, most of whom are of Ukrainian descent, marched from Rothschild Boulevard to Habima Square, chanting Ukrainian slogans and bearing Ukrainian flags.
“We can’t stand by and watch Putin invades to Ukraine, killing and taking over territories of a democratic country,” the protest organizers wrote on Facebook.
Protestors in Tel Aviv on Saturday.Hadas Parush
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Demonstrators staged marches in major cities across the world as diaspora Ukrainians and supporters demanded an end to Russia’s invasion of the country. The Russian attack on Ukraine entered the its third day.
Several hundred people marched through heavy rain in Sydney chanting “Ukraine will prevail,” while protesters in Tokyo called for Russia to be expelled from the United Nations Security Council.
Thousands of people also took to the streets in Europe, with protesters – including many Ukrainians living abroad – in London, Nicosia, Berlin, Athens, Helsinki, Madrid and Milan draping themselves in flags and holding “stop the war” placards.
“You look at the people gathered here and everybody is scared … We had peace for 80 years and all of a sudden, war is back in Europe,” said Stefan Pischel, among a crowd of some 2,500 in Munich’s Karlsplatz square.
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A rally held in the Swiss capital of Bern attracted an estimated 20,000 demonstrators. The Ukrainian flag flew over the seat of the city council.
In Istanbul, Ukrainians living in Turkey sang their national anthem and held banners with images of bloody handprints.
“My family is in Kyiv region, and they are attacking Kyiv today. I don’t know what to do, what to think. I am calling them every 10 to 15 minutes,” a protester who gave her name as Victoria said.
“I hope the whole world will … just stand up and do something to protect our families.”
