Prague rally commemorates child victims of the Russia-Ukraine war

A rally was held by the Belarusian-Ukrainian community in front of the statue of Saint Wenceslas in Prague's Wenceslas Square. The demonstrators, including mothers with children, lit candles to commemorate the dead.

Many carried yellow-blue Ukrainian flags and signs with slogans such as "Children want to live," "Children are our future, save the future," and "Save Ukrainian kids." They also displayed photos of Ukrainian cities ravaged by war.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights said earlier this week that since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine over 2,000 civilians have died and over 2,800 have been injured. There are at least 207 children among them. However, the real number of the victims could be much higher.

Organizer Lesha Franc highlighted the contribution of Belarusians who protest against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian battalion currently fighting for Ukraine, and partisans' efforts in Belarus to disrupt railway infrastructure to prevent Russia's connection to Ukraine. 

The organizers also showed support to the Russians who protest against the war.

"Similar events are being held in Lviv, Kyiv, Warsaw, and Toronto today," Franc said.

Czech philosopher and activist Václav Němec gave a speech expressing compassion for the population of Ukraine, and criticized NATO and EU leaders for failing to intervene in time to prevent the conflict.

He was applauded for having said the solution was in a "paramilitary or military humanitarian action."

Němec called for increased arms deliveries for Ukraine and rapid cutting off of Europe from Russian gas and petrol.

"When someone says 'monster,' I imagine Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin gang," he added.

The event ended with the Ukrainian national anthem.

A number of rallies have been staged in support of Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion and others are being planned in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic has received over 300,000 Ukrainians since the start of the invasion. Women and children make up most of the refugees.