Thousands of Russians in the Czech Republic protest against the war in Ukraine

Thousands of Russians in the Czech Republic protest against the war in Ukraine

Thousands of Russians walked through the streets of Prague on Saturday, waving the white, blue, and white flag that has become a symbol of protests against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Demonstrators carried banners reading "Keller" above a picture of President Vladimir Putin chanting "No to war" and marched from Prague's Peace Square through the center of the Czech capital. Police estimated the number of protesters at 3,000.

"We are against Putin," said Alexander Sepremov, a 19-year-old student who attended the protest with his father.

"We disagree with his policy. 

Moscow describes its actions in Ukraine as a "special military operation" to disarm and "discredit" its neighbor and denies targeting civilians. Ukraine and its Western allies called this a baseless excuse for an unprovoked invasion.

The Czech is home to 45,000 Russians, the fourth-largest foreign community in the former communist-ruled country.

Approximately 200,000 Ukrainians lived in the Czech Republic - making them the most significant foreign community - before the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

The Czech government estimates that 300,000 Ukrainians have fled to the country.

"This act shows the Czech Republic and the Czech people that the Russians are (against Putin)," said protest organizer Anton Lytvyn.

Protesters in Prague said they think they reflect how many people in Russia feel but cannot say so. " because we are Russians doesn't mean we automatically support the war. We are against war," said protester Oleg Golubyatov, a former soldier who has lived in Prague for 15 years. "Ukraine is a normal country. It's terrible (what's happening there)."