Russia-Ukraine: Anti-war protests continue in Moscow, St Petersburg, prominent Russian celebrities join

Almost 1,900 Russians have been arrested as of Friday

Protests in Russia continued during the second day of Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, with prominent Russians joining in major cities across the country. 

Russian authorities arrested over 1,700 individuals Thursday as citizens took to the streets of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major cities to denounce the invasion of Ukraine and demand an end to hostilities, according to OVD Info, an independent organization monitoring political persecutions.

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But if Putin’s plan was to end the protests and deter further ones from popping up, he has failed miserably: Fresh protests started Friday, with prominent Russians in the entertainment and business sectors joining at great personal and financial risk. A further 150 or so people were arrested Friday. 

Video posted on social media showed anti-war protests continuing in St. Petersburg despite the crackdown by Russian police the previous day. 

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Hundreds turned out in Tbilisi and stood outside government buildings to demand the end of the war. 

Police officers detain a demonstrator with a poster that reads: "I'm against the war", in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, after Russia's attack on Ukraine. Hundreds of people gathered in the center of Moscow on Thursday, protesting against Russia's attack on Ukraine. Many of the demonstrators were detained. Similar protests took place in other Russian cities, and activists were also arrested. (AP Photo/Denis Kaminev) (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Demonstrators shout slogans in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Hundreds of people gathered in the center of Moscow on Thursday, protesting against Russia's attack on Ukraine. Many of the demonstrators were detained. Similar protests took place in other Russian cities, and activists were also arrested. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

A boy plays on a swing in front of a damaged residential block hit by an early morning missile strike on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Yesterday, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with Russian troops invading the country from the north, east and south, accompanied by air strikes and shelling. The Ukrainian president said that at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers were killed by the end of the first day.  (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

KYIV, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 25: People take photographs of the exterior of a residential block hit by an early morning missile strike on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Yesterday, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with Russian troops invading the country from the north, east and south, accompanied by air strikes and shelling. The Ukrainian president said that at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers were killed by the end of the first day. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Protests also continued in Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, according to Al Jazeera. 

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Ivan Urgant, a popular talk show host on state-run Channel One, posted a black square on Instagram ad wrote "Fear and pain. No to war." His show has not gone on air since his post, and the channel claimed it was a scheduling issue while reports indicate that he has been blacklisted, The Guardian reported. 

Rapper Oxxxymiron canceled six sold-out Moscow and St. Petersburg shows, saying, "I cannot entertain you when Russian missiles are falling on Ukraine

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Even the daughter of oligarch and Chelsea F.C. owner Roman Abramovich has spoken out, posting on Instagram that "The biggest and most successful lie of Kremlin’s propaganda is that most Russians stand with Putin." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s daughter also posted "No to war" on Instagram. 

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