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Thousands of Russians are protesting in the center of Moscow, against the alleged involvement of Russia in the conflict in Ukraine.
The protesters, including leading opposition activists, carried the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine and chanted the slogans “No to war in Ukraine” and “Stop (Russian President) Putin’s lies.”
It is the first major anti-war protest in Russia since the conflict began in April between the kyiv government and pro-Russian separatists, following Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula.
So far, the clashes have left more than 3,000 dead, especially in the eastern regions of Lugansk and Donetsk.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of being directly involved in the conflict, something the Moscow government denies.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government has said its military forces will not withdraw from the east of the country until the pro-Russians stop firing and the Russian troops have left.
A truce was reached on September 5, but it has been violated several times.
Clashes were reported near the city of Donetsk, despite an agreement reached last Friday, which established a 30-kilometre demilitarized strip.
