A year ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. To mark the anniversary, tens of thousands took to the streets in several places in Germany. In Hamburg, companies, organizations and associations commemorate the victims' inner contemplation for one minute. In Lower Saxony, thousands form a chain of lights.
In several places in Germany, tens of thousands demonstrated against Russian aggression and for an end to the war in Ukraine. The occasion is the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of the neighboring country. According to the police, more than 10,000 people took to the streets in Berlin by early evening. There were also demonstrations in Hamburg and Lower Saxony.
In Berlin, the influx is still continuing. People streamed from Karl-Marx-Allee via Alexanderplatz and Unter den Linden boulevard towards the Brandenburg Gate, which was illuminated blue and yellow in the evening. Many also came directly to the site of the final rally by subway and S-Bahn.
In front of the Russian embassy near the Brandenburg Gate, people chanted: "Russia is a terrorist state". Many participants waved Ukrainian flags. They kept shouting "Free Ukraine" and "Stop the war". A Russian tank destroyed during the defense of the Ukrainian capital Kiev was set up there with the cannon pointing towards the Moscow representation. A total of 12,500 people were registered for the large-scale demonstration. Around 800 officers are on duty. In the course of this, significant traffic disruptions and closures are to be expected.
According to the police, 13 demonstrations will take place in the capital on Friday - eleven pro-Ukrainian, one against arms deliveries and one for peace. According to the spokeswoman, only a two-digit number of people took part in these.
In Hamburg, companies, associations and institutions set a sign of peace with a minute's silence and rallies. Several thousand people moved from the main train station through the city center to the Gänsemarkt. The local police estimated the number of participants to be at least 2,500. At 12:00 p.m. sharp, the elevated railway stopped operating for a minute's silence. "Memorial of the victims of the Ukraine war - subways and buses stand still for a minute," it said on advertisements.
Called for the action under the motto
Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher said in a video message: "February 24, 2022 is a black day in the history of Europe. Russia's war of aggression is a serious breach of international law." He emphasized that Hamburg stands in solidarity with Ukraine. As President of the Federal Council, Tschentscher took part in a central commemoration event in Berlin.
In front of the Russian consulate general, the left demonstrated under the motto "Stop the war!". Another banner read: "No arms deliveries - negotiations now!" One participant wore a vest with the inscription: "If you want victory, you want war". An eyewitness estimated the number of participants at 200.
An extraordinary rally took place in the west of the Federal Republic in the afternoon: several thousand people formed a peace chain for a few minutes between Osnabrück in Lower Saxony and Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia. The participants therefore held hands for a few minutes and closed gaps at intersections and roads that were closed to traffic during this time. According to estimates, around 18,000 people took part in the peace chain on Lower Saxony soil. In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War in Osnabrück and Münster.
