Russian troops 'violently disperse' civilians at pro-Ukraine rally

Russian troops hurl stun grenades and ‘violently disperse’ civilians singing the national anthem at a pro-Ukraine rally in occupied town

  • Some participants were also detained by Russian soldiers, said local authorities
  • Footage appears to show stun grenades landing in centre of Enerhodar, Ukraine
  • The town has been under Russian control since March 4, says Interfax Ukraine
  • And separately, within Russia, 176 people were detained on Saturday in protests

Russian troops violently dispersed civilians singing the national anthem during a pro-Ukraine rally in an occupied town on Saturday, said local authorities.

Some participants were also bundled into detention vans by the soldiers, according to the administration, after gathering in the centre of Enerhodar, around the vicinity of the Sovremennik cultural centre.

Sharing a video of what appeared to be multiple stun grenades landing in a square before letting off bangs and white smoke, it wrote in a Telegram post: ‘The occupiers are dispersing the protesters with explosions.’

It also accused Russian forces of shelling another part of the town on Saturday and said as a result four people had been wounded and were being treated in hospital. 

And separately, within Russia, 176 people were detained today in protests against Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, a non-governmental organisation said.


Sharing a video of what appeared to be multiple stun grenades landing in the square in Enerhodar before letting off bangs and white smoke, the local administration wrote: ‘The occupiers are dispersing the protesters with explosions’

Moscow denies targeting civilians and describes its invasion of Ukraine as a ‘special military operation.’ Ukraine and the West say it is an unprovoked war of aggression.

Residents of some towns and villages seized by Russian troops since they invaded on February 24 have staged regular rallies against the occupation.

The footage came on the same day a series of blasts tore through the region nearby the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Both the town and the plant, which generates over a fifth of Ukraine’s electricity, have been under Russian control since March 4, according to Interfax Ukraine. 

Enerhodar lies on the Dnipro river in southern Ukraine and is home to workers of the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. 

Meanwhile, OVD-Info, which monitors arrests during protests, said police had detained at least 176 people during demonstrations in 14 cities in Russia. 

Police in Moscow reportedly escorted away people sitting on park benches or just standing around without explaining the reasons for the detention.

One of the detained women held a bouquet of white tulips, while another several times exclaimed ‘No to war in Ukraine!’ as she was being taken away.

Residents of some towns and villages seized by Russian troops since they invaded on February 24 have staged regular rallies against the occupation

Moscow denies targeting civilians and describes its invasion of Ukraine as a ‘special military operation.’ Ukraine and the West say it is an unprovoked war of aggression

A national sit-in on Saturday against what Moscow calls its ‘military operation’ in Ukraine was announced on social media by activists in around 30 Russian cities.

The organisers said in a statement they wanted to protest ‘the collapse of (Russia’s) economy’, against Russian President Vladimir Putin and to demand freedom for jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

‘Russia deserves peace, democracy and prosperity,’ they said.

In Russia’s second city, Saint Petersburg, multiple arrests were made near the city’s Legislative Assembly where around 40 people gathered, although it was unclear how many were there to protest.

Separately, within Russia, 176 people were detained today in protests against Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, a non-governmental organisation said. Pictured: people being detained by police in Zaryadye

Sergei Gorelov, 30, said he came to ‘take a look and show support if necessary’, 

He added: ‘Nobody will come, all the active ones were detained at previous protests.’

And 50-year-old Galina Sedova said: ‘I just came to stand around, to somehow express my protest to everything that is happening. It’s scary to protest actively.’

Protesters risk fines and possible prison sentences by taking to the streets.

OVD-Info says that over 15,000 people have been detained at rallies across the country to protest Russian military action in Ukraine, which was launched on February 24.

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