The Voice of Ukraine initiative organized a protest march from the Old Town Square around shops and signs that did not withdraw from Russia. The goal of the march was Wenceslas Square, where a program for the anniversary of the Russian invasion took place, February 24, 2023, Prague.
Prague – Today, hundreds to thousands of people gathered in the Old Town Square in the center of Prague to remember that a year ago Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine. The goal of the organizers is for Prague to become the “voice of Ukraine” on the anniversary of the invasion, they also want to draw attention to companies that are doing business in Russia even after the invasion of the neighboring country. People in the procession will walk to Wenceslas Square, where another program is planned. Police representatives did not want to estimate the number of participants in the march.
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People gathered at the Old Town Square around 3:00 p.m. After about half an hour, they went along Celetná Street to Republic Square, from where they will head to Wenceslas Square. At the head of the procession are people with banners bearing the logos of companies that continue to do business in Russia. The banners have red spots on them to symbolize blood, and the people carrying them have their hands painted red.
Participants also carry Ukrainian flags or banners condemning Russia and the invasion. People carry the large Ukrainian flag unfurled among themselves also in the middle of the procession.
The parade is part of the Light will win over darkness initiative, which is coordinated by Ukrainian volunteers. Similar events should take place today, for example, in Belgium, Finland or Germany, many of them are also planned for Saturday.
The police have prepared security measures for today's and weekend rallies in Prague, in which law enforcement officers will participate , traffic and criminal services as well as the anti-conflict team, announced on Twitter. “From the findings, it does not follow that the gatherings should be disrupted in any way, and we believe in their peaceful course,” she said.
Today marks one year since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Russian army launched an air and ground attack in the morning hours of February 24, 2022. The aggression caused a huge wave of solidarity in the Czech Republic and abroad. Western leaders have condemned Moscow's actions, and countries are applying sanctions against Russia.
On Malostranské náměstí, the painting of Amelia reminds the courage of Ukrainians
The courage of the Ukrainians, who have been resisting the invasion of Russian troops for a year, will be commemorated by a painting depicting the Ukrainian girl Amelia standing with a suitcase in the ruins of the city on Malostranské náměstí in Prague for several weeks from today. The work was created and dedicated to the Chamber of Deputies by leading Czech street artist Chemis. The large-format painting was unveiled today by the representatives of the House of Representatives in the presence of the Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová and the representative of the Ukrainian Ambassador Vitaly Usatyje on the balcony of the Smiřicky Palace of the House of Representatives with a view of Malostranské náměstí.
“Ukrainians are brave, you can see it every day. And they often stand on the ruins and speak for Ukraine to be free,” said the artist. The painting shows Amelia, who was made famous a year ago by footage of her singing and touching adults in a shelter. According to the artist, the work has the same theme as the girl's singing, namely to show that Ukraine is still alive.
The small ceremony at the House of Representatives was one of a number of events that will be held today throughout the Czech Republic as a reminder that exactly one year ago, Russian troops invaded Ukraine and started the still-unending military conflict. Some buildings in Prague, including the embassies of several countries, were already lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag at night. At the unveiling of the work, Pekarová Adamová recalled the horrors that are happening in Ukraine, as well as the solidarity on the other side. At the same time, she promised that the Czech Republic would continue to help the hard-pressed country.
Chemis is one of the most important Czech street artists today. Last March, he created a mural with the motif of a little girl hiding under the Ukrainian flag in Nusle, Prague. In connection with the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia, he created the legendary painting of a crying Masaryk on the wall of the boiler room at the Faculty of Science in Olomouc.
Activists in front of the Russian embassy symbolically ended the life of the aggressor
With a symbolic happening in front of the Russian embassy in Prague today, the activist group Kaputin expressed hope for an early end to the war in Ukraine. The actors of the short skit wordlessly cut off the limbs of a large bird of prey with the Z symbol on its chest, which marks the Russian troops in Ukraine, with an ax in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and left it to bleed out in front of the onlookers. The scene was watched by a figure symbolizing justice, with scales in hand and with a white blindfold, blood from the stuffed animal splashed on her as well.
In addition to the Kaputin association, representatives of other initiatives and associations protesting against the war in Ukraine gathered today in front of the Russian embassy. On the way to the entrance to the embassy, there were photographs of places that have filled the media in recent months due to war strikes. Those present today also expressed their support for Russians who live in the Czech Republic and do not agree with the war and the Putin regime.
“On this day, we commemorate the anniversary of Russia's brutal invasion of the territory of the sovereign state of Ukraine. It was eight years after the Russian regime in Ukraine was occupying and killing. All this time, the reaction of the Western world was insufficient and gave the dictator the opportunity to prepare an even more monstrous scenario that came true in February 2022,” Kaputin group members said in a statement today.
“Civilized world they must defeat Russian aggression, Russian anti-civilization. Our happening symbolizes that justice may be slow and blind, but thanks to Ukraine, it has received a clear and sharp symbolic ax in its hand. It can cut down Russian expansion, Russian horrors. However, it will not work without Western countries. We must to persevere, we must win together,” said the activists, who have been protesting the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time through their public appearances.
