Russia's ambassador to Poland was splattered with blood-red paint ahead of a visit to a Warsaw cemetery by protesters opposing the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Ambassador Sergey Andreev arrived at the Soviet Military Cemetery to lay flowers for fighters who died during World War II in honour of Victory Day; a major Russian holiday marking the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Before he was able to lay the flowers, Andreev was met by protesters who snatched away the wreath he had been planning to place at the cemetery and trampled on it, rendering it unusable.
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Red paint was then thrown at the ambassador from behind, before a protester standing next to him struck him with a big blob.
See the moment he was hit below:
Those opposing the war carried Ukrainian flags and called out chants of 'fascists' and 'murderers' towards Andreev.
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The ambassador's security guards appeared to have been caught up in the paint attack and could also be seen splattered with the substance.
According to ABC News, some protesters were dressed in white sheets smeared with red in homage to the Ukrainian victims of the war.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova addressed and denounced the attack in a post online, saying the country 'won't be scared' and that the people of Europe 'should be scared to see their reflection in a mirror'.
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Zakharova claimed 'admirers of the neo-Nazis have once again shown their face', and said the attack reflected the 'course for the reincarnation of fascism'.
In the wake of the attack the Polish government received criticism for not providing Andreev with more security, though the country's current interior minister, Mariusz Kaminski, explained Poland's government had advised Andreev against visiting the cemetery to lay flowers and pointed out police allowed him to safely leave the scene.
Kaminski commented: "The gathering of opponents of Russian aggression against Ukraine, where the crime of genocide takes place every day, was legal. The emotions of Ukrainian women taking part in the demonstration, whose husbands are fighting bravely in defense of their homeland, are understandable.”
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As well as the demonstration at the cemetery, protesters also voiced their criticism of the war with a march in Warsaw on Sunday (8 May), which saw them bring a tank on a tractor and park it in front of the Russian Embassy.
Andreev's visit to the cemetery came after the Russian Embassy in Poland decided against going ahead with a planned Victor Day march following backlash from city authorities and the Polish foreign ministry.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
Emily Brown