A number of NGOs held a protest outside the Russian embassy in Malta on Friday night, as the Russian Federation continues with its invasion of the eastern European country of Ukraine.

A significant number of people turned up, and many Ukrainian nationals and people with ties to the country addressed the protest. They detailed how their family and friends in Ukraine are currently in a warzone.

During the protest, a letter to the Russian ambassador was read out, calling for an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, before being dropped at the embassy.

The letter was addressed to the ambassador of Russia to Malta, Andrei Lopukhov, and was read out in a protest at the steps of the Russian Embassy in San Gwann by Repubblika President Robert Aquilina.

The NGOs said that they have written to the ambassador with "sadness and indignation" regarding the action taken by the authorities and the military forces in Russia, where, in the last few hours, "without any provocation or justification whatsoever", have invaded their sovereign neighbouring country, Ukraine.

"This initiative is clearly in breach of international law. The victims of this affront are ordinary persons - innocent children, women and men who are blameless but who are paying for the violence of this invasion with their blood and their lives," the NGOs wrote.

The NGOs said that this invasion brings to Europe violence and war at a level that has not been witnessed since World War II.

That world conflict was brought to an end especially thanks to the sacrifice of the Russian people and the Russian military who paid so dearly to bring back peace after the Nazi and Fascist aggression, the NGOs continued.

"This invasion of Ukraine carries the biggest threat in decades of the use of nuclear armament and the consequent destruction that this would entail, including the destruction of human life as we know it," the letter continues.

"It is for these reasons that we appeal to the Russian authorities to immediately call back their forces to Russia and leave Ukraine, and to return to dialogue and reciprocal respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security of their neighbours," they said.

"In this moment, we stand here in solidarity with the Ukrainian people as the victim of this illegal and violent aggression."

The NGOs also saluted the Russian people who they said continue to enjoy their respect and love.

"We know that this aggression is the result of the intentions and actions of cruel and ambitious leaders, and not of a whole people that has nothing to do with this violence. Despite what their leaders have done, we feel no hatred whatsoever towards any Russian, including those who like you, have made their home temporarily or permanently among us," they said.

"Violence, aggression and war separate us from each other, bring hardship and misery, hate and misunderstanding, pain and death. The peace we have enjoyed since in Malta, thirty-three years ago, the end of the Cold War was declared, has brought prosperity and peace of mind to the whole world, including Russia itself."

In light of this, the organisations appealed to the ambassador to bring to the attention of his government and armed forces this message from Maltese of good will, so that the aggression can be immediately ended and Russia can once again choose the road of peace.

The letter was signed by Repubblika, the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, SOS Malta, OASI Foundation, PEN Malta, Prisma Malta,  and the Anti-Poverty Forum Malta.

The protest ended with a prayer for peace and all present singing the Ukrainian national anthem 

Photos: Albert Galea