Putin's 'lake of blood': Pond is dyed red outside Russian embassy in Lithuania to condemn Ukraine invasion
- 'Lake of blood' has been created in front of Russian embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania
- Signifies to Russian diplomats Lithuanian horror at Vladimir Putin's Ukraine war
- Lithuanian swimmer Rūta Meilutytė crossed the lake to raise awareness for stunt
- Riga renamed the Russian embassy's road the Street of Ukrainian Independence
By WILL STEWART FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 23:17 AEST, 7 April 2022 | UPDATED: 23:23 AEST, 7 April 2022
A 'lake of blood' has been created in front of a Russian embassy in Lithuania to to condemn Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine invasion.
The protest in Lithuanian capital Vilnius aims to highlight the threat of genocide from Russian military operations and highlight to diplomats the horror of Putin's war.
Lithuanian Olympic swimming Rūta Meilutytė, 25, swam across the red-coloured pond dyed with ecological paint to highlight the horror of the war.
'The performance "Swimming Through" is a call for action in support of the Ukrainian people who are facing genocide committed by Russia,' said one of four artists behind the project, Berta Tilmantaitė.
In Riga, capital of neighbouring Latvia, the road where the Russian embassy is located was renamed the Street of Ukrainian Independence.
The road in front of the embassy bears a huge message: 'Putin, The Hague is waiting for you.'
A 'lake of blood' has been created in front of a Russian embassy in Vilnius to highlight to Russian diplomats the horror of Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine
The protest in Lithuanian capital aims to highlight the threat of genocide from Russian military operations (pictured, Lithuanian Olympic swimming Rūta Meilutytė swims across the lake)
Lithuanian Olympic swimming Rūta Meilutytė, 25, swam across the red-coloured pond dyed with ecological paint to highlight the horror of the war
'The performance "Swimming Through" is a call for action in support of the Ukrainian people who are facing genocide committed by Russia,' said one of four artists behind the project, Berta Tilmantaitė (pictured, people bathe in the lake during a protest today)
A huge poster with Putin's deformed face was hanged opposite the Russian Embassy in Riga, Latvia
Protesters also hung caricatures of President Vladimir Putin outside of the Russian embassy in Riga, Latvia, where the road the consulate sits on was renamed the Street of Ukrainian Independence
Tilmantaitė said: 'It's a call to not remain neutral in the face of the war. A call to take an active part in protecting the lives, the freedom, and the democracy of Ukrainian people who are being tortured, raped, and killed by Russia.
'It is important not to get numb to the horrific images of mass killings of Ukrainians and their pain.
'The seemingly never-ending horrors imposed by Russia on the Ukrainian land must not become the norm.
'With countries such as Germany not stepping up and posing adequate sanctions on the aggressor - choosing money over people, makes it hard to remain hopeful.
People bathe in a pond, colored red to signify blood, during a protest performance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in front of the Russian embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania
A woman floats in a pond, colored red to signify blood, during a protest performance in Vilnius today against the Russian invasion of Ukraine
People lay on the ground to symbolize the people killed in the war on Ukraine during a protest performance against Vladimir Putin today
'Therefore, it's crucial that we keep acting – spreading truthful information, volunteering, protesting, donating, and pressuring our governments to take action,' Tilmantaitė added.
'The bloody pond emphasises Russia's responsibility for committing war crimes against Ukrainians.'
In Riga, the Museum of Medicine opposite the Russian Embassy has a huge portrait of Putin's deformed face appeared looking at diplomats.
The Russian embassy sent a note to protest to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
People bathe in a pond, colored red to signify blood, during a protest performance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in front of the Russian embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania
'The bloody pond emphasises Russia's responsibility for committing war crimes against Ukrainians,' said one of four artists behind the project, Berta Tilmantaitė