Moscow police arrest people laying flowers on Ukraine anniversary

DOZENS of people were detained by police in Russia on Friday (February 24) for actions to commemorate the first anniversary of Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine, in some cases just for placing flowers, a human rights group has said.

The Russian authorities have remained largely silent during the anniversary, which Ukraine has observed with a ceremony to remember soldiers and civilians who have been killed.

In Moscow, at least three people laying flowers on a monument to prominent Ukrainian poet Lesya Ukrainka were quickly detained by police officers, rights centre OVD-Info said.

"One of them was laying flowers at the monument, but at the same moment she was grabbed by the security forces and the bouquet was taken away," it said.

At least 15 people were detained laying flowers at a monument to Ukrainian writer Taras Shevchenko in St. Petersburg, it added.