Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Moscow on Feb. 24. Photo: Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images
Russian police detained more than 1,700 people participating in protests on Thursday against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, according to OVD-Info, a Russia-based human rights organization that monitors political persecution in the country.
Why it matters:Hundreds of people organized in multiple Russian cities — including Moscow and Saint Petersburg — for protests despite warnings from the government that participants would be arrested.
According to OVD-Info, demonstrators in more than 50 cities were detained.
The anti-war demonstrations are the largest organized protests against the Russian government since the Kremlin arrested Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny last year.
The big picture: Thousands of people around the world participated in demonstrations rebuking Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.
Worldwide protests in photos:
Police in Russia arresting a person participating in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Saint Petersburg on Feb. 24. Photo: Sergei Mikhailichenko/AFP via Getty ImagesA man holding up a placard reading "No to war!" protests against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Saint Petersburg on Feb. 24. Photo: Sergei Mikhailichenko SERGEI/AFP via Getty ImagesFrench protesters wave Ukrainian flags and gather around Paris' Monument à la République on Feb. 24. Photo: Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty ImagesAnti-war demonstrators and Ukrainians in London gather around 10 Downing Street to protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, on Feb. 24. Photo: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesPeople protesting outside the Russian embassy in Beirut on Feb. 24. Photo: Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images A person in Novosibirsk, Russia, holding a sign that reads "Me/We Against the War" during an anti-war rally on Feb. 24. Photo: Kirill Kukhmar\TASS via Getty ImagesA protest against Russian aggression in Zagreb, Croatia, on Feb. 24. Photo: Denis Lavrovic/AFP via Getty ImagesPeople gathering in support for Ukraine in in Ankara, Turkey, on Feb. 24. Photo: Berke Bayur/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesPeople protesting Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Rome on Feb. 24. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty ImagesProtesters burn Russia's flag in front of the Russian embassy in Warsaw on Feb. 24. Photo: Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images A protester holding a sign reading "No war with Ukraine" in front of the Russian Embassy in Tokyo on Feb. 24. Photo: Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesProtesters in Berlin on Feb. 24. Photo: Paul Zinken/picture alliance via Getty ImagesProtesters demonstrate outside the Russian embassy in London on Feb. 23. Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty ImagesDemonstrators rally in front of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vienna during protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Photo: Alex Halada/AFP via Getty ImagesDemonstrators gathering in support of Ukraine in Barcelona on Feb. 24. Photo: Pau Barrena/AFP via Getty ImagesPeople holding Ukraine's flag in Berlin on Feb. 24. Photo: Paul Zinken/picture alliance via Getty ImagesProtesters waving and wearing Ukraine's flag in Paris on Feb. 24. Photo: Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty ImagesDemonstrators outside of Russia's embassy in Warsaw, Poland, on Feb. 24. Photo: Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images
