PRETORIA – As the world marks three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, South Africans across the country have mobilized in protest, calling for accountability and a just, sustainable peace for Ukraine. Demonstrations are scheduled to take place in Cape Town on February 21, 2025 (Friday) from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Thibault Square, Riebeek Street, in front of the Russian Consulate; in Durban on February 23, 2025 (Sunday) at 4:00 PM at Whale Bone Pier, Umhlanga; and in Pretoria on February 24, 2025 (Monday) at 8:30 AM at 316 Brooks Street, Menlo Park, in front of the Russian Embassy, highlighting widespread condemnation of ongoing Russian aggression and human rights violations.
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The invasion, which began on February 24, 2022, represented a drastic escalation of conflict stemming from Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. Despite Ukraine’s resilience, having reclaimed almost half of the territories occupied since February 2024, the Russian attacks have grown increasingly brutal. Civilians remain primary targets, subjected to arbitrary detentions, torture, and forced assimilation under Russian control.
“Occupation is not peace – occupation means more death,” asserted Svitlana Sheremet, a member of the Ukrainian Association of South Africa, whose own family lives under Russian occupation in the Zaporizhzhya region. She describes life in occupied territories as filled with constant fear, where refusal to accept Russian citizenship could lead to children being forcibly taken away from their families.
The consequences of Russia’s war are stark: over 140,000 documented war crimes, tens of thousands of civilian deaths, and the forced displacement of approximately 11 million Ukrainians. Cities like Mariupol, Vovchansk, and Bakhmut lie in ruins, while over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been illegally deported to Russia and separated from their families.
In addition to atrocities within Ukraine, protesters highlighted Russia’s destabilizing activities in Africa, particularly through the infamous Wagner Group. Russian mercenaries have been implicated in mass civilian killings in Mali and numerous war crimes, including torture and extrajudicial killings in the Central African Republic. Protesters urge South Africans to reflect critically on Russia’s growing influence in Africa, which they say promotes violence, corruption, and authoritarianism.
To symbolize the suffering and resilience of Ukrainians, symbolic acts were performed during the protests. In Cape Town, protesters enacted scenes depicting the destruction of Ukrainian culture and identity, while in Pretoria, demonstrators held keys to symbolize the thousands of Ukrainians still in captivity. Notably, South African dancer Tsholo4elo performed a poignant dance in Pretoria to draw attention to the plight of forcibly deported Ukrainian children.
These peaceful protests send a powerful message urging the South African government and the international community to take a firmer stance against Russian aggression. Demonstrators demand not only an end to war crimes but also a commitment to a just and lasting peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, democracy, and international law.
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