Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, the large Ukrainian diaspora has played a pivotal role in assuring that the human cost of war remains front and center in the global consciousness. Many have taken to the streets to show solidarity with their country and to vent their anger.
On Friday, protests in Barcelona and Athens against the Russian invasion had particular resonance as Ukraine marked its Day of Defenders, a public holiday honoring military members. Hanging over both events was Russia’s recent illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions, which has spurred indignation among the world’s Ukrainian community.
At the protest in Barcelona, one woman held a sign showing the head of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, emblazoned with the words “Stop Russia.” That sentiment was echoed in Syntagma Square in Athens, long the site of many historic political demonstrations, where some protesters condemned Russia as “a terrorist state.”
