<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked female military personnel and healthcare workers in a video message on International Women's Day, Tass news agency reported on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"A special word of respect to the women who are doing their duty, serving in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces," Putin said, as he praised them for their loyalty.</p>.<p>Volunteers handed out 100,000 flowers to Moscow's female residents, including bouquets of tulips to female drivers of buses and trams, the RIA Novosti agency reported.</p>.<p>International Women's Day, a public holiday in Russia, has a long tradition in eastern European countries and across the former Soviet Union, where men often mark the day by buying flowers or gifts for women.</p>.<p>But some women were not in the mood to celebrate almost two weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and focused instead on calling for an end to the fighting.</p>.<p>Maria Tunkara, who blogs about feminism and racism, posted on Instagram, "the best gift for March 8 is that we and our loved ones will no longer have to suffer because of what is happening."</p>.<p>"Many of my readers have acquaintances and partners who are also now on a 'special operation'. On both sides. And it's scary. It shouldn't be like this. They should all be at home," she told her 108,000 followers on social media.</p>.<p>Russia describes its actions as a "special operation" to disarm Ukraine and unseat leaders it calls neo-Nazis. Ukraine and its Western allies call this a baseless pretext to invade a country of 44 million people.</p>.<p>Daria, a psychologist from Moscow, said in an interview on social media she could not celebrate while women were being detained at anti-war rallies in Russia.</p>.<p>Since Feb. 24, police have detained more than 13,000 people in Russia-wide protests against the invasion of Ukraine, according to the independent protest monitoring group OVD-Info.</p>.<p>Despite the war, Olga, 18, who lives in Russian-annexed Crimea, said she and her family would be celebrating tonight.</p>.<p>"I hope it will help to distract from the noise of the planes that are constantly flying over our village”, she told Reuters in a message on social media.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked female military personnel and healthcare workers in a video message on International Women's Day, Tass news agency reported on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"A special word of respect to the women who are doing their duty, serving in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces," Putin said, as he praised them for their loyalty.</p>.<p>Volunteers handed out 100,000 flowers to Moscow's female residents, including bouquets of tulips to female drivers of buses and trams, the RIA Novosti agency reported.</p>.<p>International Women's Day, a public holiday in Russia, has a long tradition in eastern European countries and across the former Soviet Union, where men often mark the day by buying flowers or gifts for women.</p>.<p>But some women were not in the mood to celebrate almost two weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and focused instead on calling for an end to the fighting.</p>.<p>Maria Tunkara, who blogs about feminism and racism, posted on Instagram, "the best gift for March 8 is that we and our loved ones will no longer have to suffer because of what is happening."</p>.<p>"Many of my readers have acquaintances and partners who are also now on a 'special operation'. On both sides. And it's scary. It shouldn't be like this. They should all be at home," she told her 108,000 followers on social media.</p>.<p>Russia describes its actions as a "special operation" to disarm Ukraine and unseat leaders it calls neo-Nazis. Ukraine and its Western allies call this a baseless pretext to invade a country of 44 million people.</p>.<p>Daria, a psychologist from Moscow, said in an interview on social media she could not celebrate while women were being detained at anti-war rallies in Russia.</p>.<p>Since Feb. 24, police have detained more than 13,000 people in Russia-wide protests against the invasion of Ukraine, according to the independent protest monitoring group OVD-Info.</p>.<p>Despite the war, Olga, 18, who lives in Russian-annexed Crimea, said she and her family would be celebrating tonight.</p>.<p>"I hope it will help to distract from the noise of the planes that are constantly flying over our village”, she told Reuters in a message on social media.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>