Wednesday saw a call for protests against Russian President Vladimir Putin after the latter authorized the call-up of 300,000 reservists for what Kremlin rival Alexei Navalny described as a failed criminal conflict.
Putin warned the West that he was serious when he declared he would be willing to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia on Wednesday, ordering Russia's first mobilization since World War Two and supporting a proposal to take large portions of Ukraine.
Putin, according to Navalny, the most well-known opposition figure in Russia who is now serving a jail sentence, is killing more Russians to further an unsuccessful war.
Navalny stated in a video, "it is obvious that the criminal war is becoming worse, deeper, and Putin is attempting to engage as many people as possible in this." Navalny said in a video message from jail recorded and published by his lawyers.
Navalny states, "He intends to stain hundreds of thousands of people in this blood."
Putin has repressed opposition and the media since the invasion on February 24; hundreds have been detained during anti-war demonstrations, and new legislation mandates 15-year jail terms for individuals who disseminate "false news" about the military.
Critics are portrayed on Russian state television as traitors working for the West.
Putin claims that Russia and the West are at odds over Ukraine, which he claims is being exploited by the West and its allies to topple Russia.
Russian anti-war organizations encouraged public demonstrations against the mobilization order.
The Vesna anti-war group stated, "This implies that thousands of Russian men - our dads, brothers, and spouses - will be put into the meat grinder of war." "Now, every family and household is affected by the conflict."
On Wednesday, it urged Russians to go to the streets in key cities.
According to the rights organisation OVD-Info, riot police clamped down on nightly street demonstrations in the early days of the war, arresting at least 16,000 demonstrators.