Hundreds of Russians, including some children, have reportedly been detained as police moved quickly to disperse peaceful protests in several cities against President Putin’s military mobilisation order over Ukraine.
Officers held more than 700 people, including over 300 in Moscow and nearly 150 in St Petersburg, according to OVD-Info, an independent website which monitors political arrests in Russia.
The demonstrations followed protests on Wednesday after Mr Putin announced a call-up of experienced and skilled army reservists, in a move to beef up his volunteer forces fighting in Ukraine.
The defence ministry said about 300,000 people would be summoned to active duty, but the order left the door open to many more getting called into service.
Most Russian men aged 18-65 are automatically counted as reservists.
Source: Skynews