Demonstrations and expressions of solidarity with the country that was attacked by Russia exactly six months ago took place across Germany on Wednesday to mark Ukraine's Independence Day.
In Berlin, after prayers in the Memorial Church on Breitscheidplatz, hundreds of people marched to Wittenbergplatz and Nollendorfplatz in the direction of Potsdamer Strasse on Wednesday.
Several of them waved Ukrainian flags, wore them over their shoulders or wore blue and yellow clothing.
The association Vitsche called for the event.
Before the protest, its board member Vlada Vorobiova said: "Today is a day of great horror - it's been six months since Russia attacked all of Ukraine - but at the same time it's also a day of great freedom, of independence, for Ukraine stand and fight.”
A police spokesman initially spoke of around 2,000 participants, but more people would be added.
The organizers had expected up to 10,000 demonstrators.
The demonstration should end in the evening at the Brandenburg Gate.
In the first weeks after the beginning of the war there were several large protest marches in Berlin.
According to the police, several thousand people also demonstrated in Frankfurt on Wednesday evening for solidarity with Ukraine.
After a smaller demonstration under the motto "Peace, freedom, democracy and independence for a free Ukraine in a free Europe" on Paulsplatz, to which several parties had called, another rally took place a little later on Willy-Brandt-Platz.
The police spoke of around 5000 participants.
Similar campaigns were also planned in other Hessian cities, and there was to be a benefit concert in Kassel.
In Mainz, a human chain came together on the Mainz Theodor-Heuss Bridge on Wednesday evening.
Many people carried Ukrainian flags or dressed in the national colors of blue and yellow.
Some motorists honked at the demonstrators who had gathered on the sidewalk.
The event was initially peaceful, there were no major traffic disruptions on the bridge between Mainz and Wiesbaden.