Almost 1,200 protesters have been arrested in cities across Russia as they protested President Vladimir Putin’s order to mobilize 300,000 troops to fight in the Ukraine war, writes Euronews.

Putin’s speech sparked protests in at least 37 cities, including St Petersburg and the capital Moscow, according to the independent Russian human rights group OVD-Info.

Journalists in Moscow witnessed at least a dozen arrests in the first 15 minute of a protest, as participants risks Russia’s harsh laws on criticising the military and the war.

As protest calls circulated online, the Moscow prosecutor’s office warned that organising or participating in such actions could lead to up to 15 years in prison.

Authorities issued similar warnings ahead of other protests recently. However, Wednesday’s demonstrations were the first nationwide antiwar protests since the war began in late February.