Europe 1 with AFP 7:15 p.m., September 21, 2022

After Vladimir Putin's announcement of "partial mobilization" in the war in Ukraine, at least 364 people were arrested in Russia on Wednesday during improvised demonstrations.

According to an organization specializing in counting arrests, the mobilizations took place in at least 23 cities in the country.

At least 364 people were arrested Wednesday in Russia during improvised demonstrations against the partial mobilization for the offensive in Ukraine, announced in the morning by President Vladimir Putin, according to an NGO.

According to OVD-Info, an organization specializing in counting arrests, the mobilizations took place in at least 23 cities in the country.

"No to war" chanted by the demonstrators

AFP journalists in Moscow saw at least 50 arrests on one of the central arteries of the capital.

In Saint Petersburg, Russia's second city, a whole bus of arrested people was taken by the police to the center.

The demonstrators chanted "No to war!"

and "No mobilization!".

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"Everyone is scared. I'm for peace and I don't want to have to shoot. But it's very dangerous to go out now, otherwise there would have been a lot more people," said a protester in St. Petersburg , Vasily Fedorov, a student who wears a pacifist emblem on his chest.

"Why are you serving Putin?"

Alexei Zavarki, 60, regrets the immediate police response to the rallies.

"I came to participate, but it seems that they have already taken everyone on board," he said, before adding: "I don't know where we are going, this regime has signed its death warrant, is destroying the youth ".

"Why are you serving Putin? A man who has been sitting on his throne for twenty years!" Shouts another protester towards the police.

"I'm afraid for myself, for my brother, who is 25 years old and who has done his military service. He can be called up," explains Oksana Sidorenko, a student.

"Why is my future decided for me?"

In an address to the nation on Wednesday morning, Vladimir Putin decreed a partial mobilization of Russian reservists for the offensive in Ukraine and assured that he was ready to use "all means" in his arsenal against the West.