‘The war has to end’

Russian military wives bring their unrelenting demobilisation campaign to the Kremlin

Every Saturday, relatives of reservists drafted to fight in Ukraine gather to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. However, as last Saturday marked 500 days since Russian President Vladimir Putin declared mobilisation in the country, far more people than usual gathered near the Kremlin to demand their loved ones be allowed to return home.

After gathering, the protesters walked to Putin’s campaign headquarters nearby. Around 30 people, mainly journalists covering the protest, were detained by law enforcement and taken to a police station where they were denied access to lawyers.

Hear directly from those involved in the protest on Novaya Gazeta Europe’s YouTube channel. English subtitles available.