Single anti-war pickets on Lenin Square in Novosibirsk. On the morning of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a special military operation in the Donbas during an urgent address on the air. Against the background of the aggravation of the situation, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics announced on February 18 the organization of the departure of the population to Russia, on February 19 - the general mobilization of citizens.