COLOGNE, (Reuters) – Germans in Cologne switched their Carnival (NYSE) celebrations for an antiwar rally Monday. It featured parade floats mocking Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Cologne Carnival Parade, where clubs poke fun at Germany’s politicians with colorful floats, was cancelled last Wednesday in favor of a peace demonstration after Russia invaded Ukraine, the largest attack on an European country since World War Two.

Carnival is hugely celebrated in many parts of west Germany, particularly in Rhineland areas like Cologne and Duesseldorf. On Shrove Monday (or “Rose Monday”), thousands attend street parades that feature comical or satirical vehicles.

On Monday thousands of people came to see the parade route. Many were dressed in costumes made of blue and yellow (the colours of Ukraine’s flag) and carried signs that read “Peace” or “Stop Putin”.

The parade featured one float that depicted Putin pulling strings for Lukashenko. Another featured a Russian flag-speared dove.

Following several days’ worth of protests against invading cities, this rally was also held in Russia. Since Thursday, almost 6,000 protestors were detained at antiwar demonstrations, according to the OVD Info protest monitor.