Russians living in Poland took to the streets of Warsaw and Kraków to voice their opposition to Vladimir Putin’s regime and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Protesters called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of political prisoners, and for Putin to face trial for war crimes.
United Against War and Tyranny
In Warsaw, demonstrators marched under the banner “Russians Against Putin and War,” carrying the white-blue-white flag of the Russian anti-war movement alongside Polish and EU flags.
Placards in multiple languages bore messages such as “Putin to The Hague,” “Freedom for political prisoners in Russia,” and “No War.”
In Kraków, protesters walked through the historic Old Town, displaying pictures of Russian political prisoners. The demonstrations were part of a global movement marking 1,000 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Other events, including a major rally in Berlin, featured prominent Russian opposition figures like Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, and Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian prison earlier this year.
A Call for Justice and Solidarity
Organizers of the Warsaw protest stressed their unity against authoritarianism, stating to corresponds from NFP, “We have different political beliefs, but we are united by our opposition to war and tyrannical governments that violate human rights and the principles of democracy.”
They emphasized their demands for:
The full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, including Donbas and Crimea.
Punishment of Russia’s state authorities for war crimes and human rights abuses.
The group also voiced their solidarity with Polish civil society in promoting democracy and building a secure future.
Russians in Poland
Poland’s Russian population, as recorded in the 2021 national census, stands at under 16,000. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the country has tightened restrictions on Russian entry.
In 2023, Poland issued fewer than 2,000 visas to Russians, primarily for humanitarian reasons or repatriation.
Despite their small numbers, Russians in Poland have consistently organized protests since the war began. The demonstrators seek to counter stereotypes, showing that not all Russians support the Kremlin’s actions, and to amplify opposition voices in a world increasingly shaped by Putin’s aggression.
