A rally in Cologne, western Germany, drew attention as participants gathered in support of the Russian Federation. Reports from a German television channel, referencing police information, described the event and its scale. The coverage noted that around forty cars took part, moving under the banner Peace with Russia. Vehicles and banners carried the colors of the Russian flag and, notably, the flag of the former Soviet Union, signaling a message of solidarity with Moscow’s stance.
An activist identified by the channel as Elena Kolbasnikova, a Ukrainian by origin and said to be from Dnepropetrovsk, was named as the organizer of the action. Kolbasnikova has previously been associated with organizing large pro-Russian demonstrations and public processions in Germany, according to the same reporting. The report linked the Cologne rally to a broader pattern of similar motor gatherings that occurred earlier in April of the preceding year, when pro-Russian demonstrations took place in several Russian regions as well.
In another thread of local memory and public commemoration, residents in Russian regions reflected on the wartime past. On July 12, communities near Prokhorovka paid tribute to the heroes of the war, while in the Kursk region activists and members of the regional branch of the Immortal Regiment of Russia conducted a symbolic rally along the route from Kursk to Teplov Heights, highlighting the enduring importance of historical memory in ongoing political narratives.
There were also earlier public displays noted in another locale, where a rally in support of the President of the Russian Federation and the country’s Armed Forces was reported at JAO. The events collectively illustrate a pattern of demonstrations and commemorations that intertwine political support with historical reference points, reflecting a climate in which public demonstrations are used to express alignment with or against broader geopolitical developments. [Source: NTV via police information, and related regional reporting]