Germans gather to mark two years since Russia invaded Ukraine

Several thousand people gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin early on Saturday afternoon to commemorate the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine exactly two years ago.

Many participants in the rally carried Ukrainian flags. Others displayed their views on the war on banners and posters with slogans like "Russia always lies" or "The devil is in the Kremlin." People also shouted slogans like "Russia is a terrorist state."

According to initial estimates by the Berlin police, more than 3,000 people took part in the solidarity rally.

On Saturday morning, activists from the environmental organisation Greenpeace projected several slogans onto the façade of the Russian embassy in Berlin near the site of the rally, also in protest against the war. "Stop the killing" and "Hands off Ukraine" could be read in German and English on the building in the morning. Activists also held up posters.