From shop fronts spattered with paint to insults thrown in the street, attacks on the Russian community in Germany have spiked since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Highlights
- Attacks on the Russian community in Germany have spiked since the start of the war in Ukraine.
- Some Russians have staged demonstrations ‘against Russophobia’ in Germany, which has the largest Russian diaspora in the EU.
- Demonstrations have sparked a backlash, with many interpreting them as a show of support for Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.
- Germany is home to around 1.2 million Russians and 325,000 Ukrainians, plus more than 316,000 who have arrived as refugees since start of conflict.
- Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, 383 anti-Russian and 181 anti-Ukrainian crimes have been officially reported to German police.
- Several more pro-Russian demonstrations have been planned for Sunday in Germany.