Thousands join anti-war protests in Russia after Ukraine invasion

Police make more than 1,300 arrests as protesters take to the streets in cities across country

• Russia-Ukraine crisis: live updates

Vladimir Putin has said there is broad public support for the invasion of Ukraine that he announced just before dawn on Thursday morning. But by evening, thousands of people in cities across Russia had defied police threats to take to central squares and protest against the military campaign.

Police had made at least 1,346 arrests as of Thursday evening, according to the OVD-Info monitor, as they cracked down on the unsanctioned protests. Most of the arrests were made in Moscow and St Petersburg, where the crowds were largest.