Events marking the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued in Helsinki on Saturday. Following a candlelight vigil on the steps of Helsinki Cathedral on Friday, there was a procession through the capital on Saturday afternoon calling for an end to the war and supporting those suffering due to it.
The “Peace to Ukraine” march began at Kansalaistori (Citizens’ Square) and proceeded to the Russian Embassy on Tehtaankatu in the Kaivopuisto neighbourhood.
Jarmo Pykälä, general secretary of the peace group Committee of 100, described the atmosphere at Citizens’ Square as relaxed.
“There are Ukrainians, Russians and Finns here, and it seems that some foreign tourists have also joined,” Pykälä told Yle.
His NGO was one of the organisers of the demonstration, along with the Finnish branch of War Resisters' International, the Peace Union of Finland and the Finnish Peace Committee.
“We’re directing our demand for peace toward Russia, because they have the opportunity to end the war,” Pykälä said.
Helsinki police estimated that there were about 1,000 participants and said that the demonstration passed off peacefully.