Thousands of Russians protest against Ukrainian invasion, give 'no war' call

In various videos trending on social media, thousands of people risked police actions standing in solidarity with Ukraine, which has turned into the site of the biggest conflict since the conclusion of World War II.

The protests were seen in St. Petersburg, Moscow and several others.

Following the protests, police were sent to arrest the protesters, who have openly expressed "disgust" over the Putin administration.

"Arrest Putin, not me, damn it!" said one protester while he was being taken into police custody.

Air raid sirens wailed across Ukraine's capital Kiev Thursday as explosions boomed and flashed in cities across the country after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized military action against its western neighbour. Around 40 people are reported to have been killed so far.

President Putin announced the military action early in the morning on Thursday, after weeks of tense buildup, and attracted widespread condemnation from leaders across the world.

Long lines snaked outside of ATMs, supermarkets and gas stations in cities such as Kiev and Mariupol as people scrambled to prepare for what was coming.

Residents and communities across the country were gripped with "severe panic" as Russia on Thursday launched what Ukraine said was a "full-scale attack" against its neighbour, with cities bombarded from the air and forces fighting on the ground.