GDANSK (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked feminine army personnel and healthcare employees in a video message on International Women’s Day, Tass information company reported on Tuesday.
“A particular phrase of respect to the women who’re doing their responsibility, serving in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces,” Putin stated, as he praised them for their loyalty.
Volunteers handed out 100,000 flowers to Moscow’s feminine residents, together with bouquets of tulips to feminine drivers of buses and trams, the RIA Novosti company reported.
International Women’s Day, a public vacation in Russia, has a protracted custom in jap European nations and throughout the previous Soviet Union, the place males typically mark the day by shopping for flowers or presents for women.
But some women had been not in the temper to celebrate virtually two weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and targeted as a substitute on calling for an finish to the combating.
Maria Tunkara, who blogs about feminism and racism, posted on Instagram, “the most effective present for March 8 is that we and our family members will not have to undergo due to what is going on.”
“Many of my readers have acquaintances and companions who’re additionally now on a ‘particular operation’. On each side. And it is scary. It should not be like this. They ought to all be at dwelling,” she instructed her 108,000 followers on social media.
Russia describes its actions as a “particular operation” to disarm Ukraine and unseat leaders it calls neo-Nazis. Ukraine and its Western allies name this a baseless pretext to invade a rustic of 44 million folks.
Daria, a psychologist from Moscow, stated in an interview on social media she might not celebrate whereas women had been being detained at anti-war rallies in Russia.
Since Feb. 24, police have detained greater than 13,000 folks in Russia-wide protests in opposition to the invasion of Ukraine, in accordance to the unbiased protest monitoring group OVD-Info.
Despite the struggle, Olga, 18, who lives in Russian-annexed Crimea, stated she and her household can be celebrating tonight.
“I hope it would assist to distract from the noise of the planes which might be continually flying over our village”, she instructed Reuters in a message on social media.
(Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
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