Yulia Navalnaya, exiled Russians in Berlin chant ‘No to Putin!’ in anti-war protest

Around 1,500 supporters of Russia's opposition, who are now in exile, marched through central Berlin on Sunday. The protest, led by Yulia Navalnaya, was organised to condemn Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Protesters chanted slogans like "No to war!" and "No to Putin!" as they made their way through the German capital.

The event was organised to denounce the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as to express solidarity with political prisoners still in Russia. Since protests in Russia are not possible due to government repression, opposition leaders are working to rally the large number of Russians who have left the country since the invasion began in 2022.

"Putin is a murderer," said Yulia Navalnaya, who has become a prominent leader of the opposition since her husband Alexei Navalny’s death. She led the demonstration alongside Ilya Yashin, a long-time critic of Putin and former Moscow city councillor, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, another activist. Both Yashin and Kara-Murza were recently released from prison.

In a statement, protesters made their demands clear, calling for "the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, the trial of Vladimir Putin as a war criminal, and the release of all political prisoners in Russia."

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Before the march, Yashin emphasised the importance of the protest, saying that they were "using the freedom we have here in Berlin to show the world: A peaceful, free, and civilised Russia exists." Organisers also wanted to send a message that not all Russians support the Kremlin’s actions. They estimated around 2,000 people participated in the demonstration.

The Kremlin has dismissed the protest. Its spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, called the organisers "monstrously detached from their country” and said “their opinion has no importance."

In a separate development, Russia launched a massive airstrike targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure early Sunday morning, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Reports indicate that Russian forces fired about 120 missiles and 90 drones in the attack.

(With inputs from agencies)