Ukrainians in Australia and their supporters have taken to the streets in a series of a nationwide rallies, condemning Russia’s intimidation tactics and enormous increased military presence on border of the two countries.
Displaying signs which included demands ranging from “Stop Putin Now” to “No War in Ukraine” and one which claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin was a murderer, protesters marched through the streets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra on Sunday.
The rallies come amid increasing warnings from world leaders about the growing risk of potential humanitarian and economic disaster, with more than 100,000 Russian troops gathered at the border.
Among the protesters in Melbourne was Liana Slipetsky, the president of the Noble Park chapter of the Ukraine Association of Victoria.
Ms Slipetsky has family in Ukraine and fears they could be killed if war breaks out.
“What’s motivated us is the unrelenting, continuing aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which is a sovereign and independent country and has the right to chose its destiny,” she said.
“In this day and age, 2022, this should not be happening.”
