BELGRADE (Reuters – Thousands marched in Belgrade waving Russian flags and holding photos of Vladimir Putin, carrying Russian flags and bearing pictures. They were protesting Serbia’s attempt to disengage from Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine.

Numerous people joined the march, including many who were from ultranationalist organisations. The march took them from the centre of the city to the Russian embassy nearby, where they played Russian and Serbian national anthems and shot signal flares.

Mladen Obradovic was a protester.

Recently, Belgrade voted for three United Nations Resolutions which condemned Russia’s invasion in Ukraine and temporarily suspended the country from the U.N. main human rights agency. Moscow describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special operations.”

Serbia, which almost exclusively depends on Russian gas or oil, is refusing to impose sanctions and maintains regular flights with Moscow.

Protesters sang slogans such as “No NATO” or “Serbians/Russians are brothers”, and slogans in support of President Aleksandar Vucic. His Progressives received the highest number votes for forming a government.

Vucic announced earlier in the week that Serbia had plans to purchase two dozen Western jet fighters. Experts consider this a break from Russia’s military cooperation.