Thousands demonstrate in Moscow over Ukraine conflict

(Vatican Radio) A tense calm has returned to the Russian capital Moscow where tens of thousands of people have demonstrated against fighting in neighbouring Ukraine and Russia's alleged role in the conflict. The protest came amid reports of violations of a ceasefire signed on September 5th between government forces and pro-Russian separatists, though an exchange of prisoners of war continued. 

Listen to this report by Stefan Bos

Reporters said some 20,000 people were seen shouting "No to war" and the "Junta is in the Kremlin, not Kiev" in a daring protest against policies of President Vladimir Putin. Local authorities claimed just  5,000 people participated in Sunday's protest.     

At least one scuffle broke out between demonstrators and pro-Putin nationalists who carried a banner  denouncing the event as "The March of Traitors."

The protest came amid ongoing reports of deadly ceasefire violations by government forces and pro-Russian  separatists in eastern Ukraine. 

Kiev said about 40 rebels and two government soldiers had died in clashes over the weekend. Ukraine's 

national security council claimed troops were attacked at 22 locations including around the airport of 

Donetsk, while shelling was also said to continue on the outskirts of the strategic coastal city of Mariupol.     

Yet despite the violations some 76 prisoners of war, 28 detainees held by each side, were exchanged

over the weekend. 

They were taken in buses to a roadside north of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk in a transfer  observed by monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. 

“We need to start exchanging good words with one another, said Yuriy Tandit, a Ukrainian  government negotiator. "It’s important.” 

Yet, many residents remain displaced because of the fighting which killed more than 3,000 people.