Along with protests around the world, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Russian-occupied Kherson to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kherson, the first city to fall to the Russians on March 2, saw as many as 2,000 residents in the streets Saturday.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, tweeted “Peaceful demonstrations broke out in Courageous Kherson inspires Ukraine and the world!”
“Thousands of peaceful Ukrainians protest Russian occupation in front of armed Russian soldiers. What a spirit. I call on everyone around the globe: express your support for the fearless Ukrainians in Kherson!” Kuleba added.
Demonstrators waved the Ukrainian flag and carried signs. The BBC reported that they also chanted slogans like “Russians go home!” and “Kherson is Ukraine!”
After Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Ukrainian statehood, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “It is a special kind of heroism — to protest when your city is occupied”.
“Ukrainians in all of our cities that the enemy has entered — go on the offensive! You should take to the streets! You should fight!” he continued.
Videos from Saturday show Russian troops firing shots into the air in an attempt to end the protest.
During the demonstration, one person climbed on top of a Russian military vehicle and waved the Ukrainian flag as it moved down the street.
Protests were also seen in Hamburg, Germany, where more than 30,000 people marched with signs, and Paris, France, where thousands of people demanded that NATO establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
In Tel Aviv, Israel, hundreds of protesters stood in the streets, calling on Putin to end the invasion.
