Protesters in Poland drench Moscow’s ambassador in red paint at cemetery ceremony
Protesters splattered Russia’s ambassador to Poland in red paint as he tried to lay flowers at a war monument in Warsaw on Victory Day yesterday.
Siergiej Andriejew was drenched in the paint, which protesters said symbolised the blood spilt in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on February 24.
Opponents of Russia’s war approached Mr Andriejew after he arrived at the Soviet Military Cemetery and mausoleum in the Polish capital to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.
Victory Day is a holiday in Russia, celebrated with a parade at Red Square in Moscow.
After arriving at the site, the diplomat was surrounded by demonstrators waving Ukrainian flags and chanting “fascist” and “murderer”.
While posing next to a wreath, Mr Andriejew was approached by a man and a woman wearing white shirts, covered in what appeared to be red paint.
They threw the liquid over his head and shoulders, also splashing it on a member of his team. Mr Andriejew, 64, could be seen wiping the paint from his eyes as he was surrounded by demonstrators, some with fists raised.
The protesters prevented the ambassador from laying his floral tribute.
“I am proud of my president,” the ambassador said at the cemetery.
Police helped Mr Andriejew and other members of his entourage leave the scene.
Protesters also marched in Warsaw against the war in Ukraine, bringing a tank with a tractor and parking them in front of the Russian embassy on Sunday evening.
Images of Ukrainian farmers towing away abandoned Russian tanks with their tractors have become symbols of Ukrainian resistance.
The Soviet Military Cemetery is the resting place of more than 20,000 Red Army soldiers who were killed in the Second World War.
While Poland has removed some Red Army monuments since communist rule ended in 1989, the cemetery and mausoleum has remained.