As the Russian military targets Ukrainian cities, expatriates from both warring nations are watching on in disbelief and anguish.
In Canberra this weekend, 15,000 kilometres from the fighting, members of the Ukrainian community expressed horror as their fears for relatives and friends heightened.
Russian nationals told the ABC they, too, were aghast at the actions of the Putin government, saying few people either within Russia or abroad supported the invasion.
Olga Macal joined several hundred people — including some Russians — protesting outside the Russian embassy in Canberra.
Ms Macal, who is from Ukraine and whose mother is still there, said no one had expected the invasion, despite the build-up.
Her family was now trying to flee.
"Because I … wake up and I'm checking if my country still exists, if my city still exists."
'Talking is not enough': Ukrainians demand troops, weapons
The Canberra protest was one of several across Australia, as Ukrainians begged Western nations to do more to end the conflict.
As the protesters gathered, a sole embassy staff member watched the crowd from behind a fence, filming them.
Among those at the rally was Roman Kovalyshyn, whose parents were in Ukraine's west.
He said they were safe for the moment but he feared for their future.
Mr Kovalyshyn said he felt his country had been betrayed by the West, describing the existing sanctions as "nothing".
"It is definitely not enough, because those sanctions will be in place in six months, maybe more, but we need help now, immediately," he said.
"We need more weapons or more troops to help Ukraine. Talking is not enough."
'The child is attacking the mother': Priest says Russians are united against war
Russian police arrested more than 1,400 protesters last week at anti-war rallies in Moscow, St Petersburg and other Russian cities.
The Russian government warned its citizens they would be prosecuted and treated as criminals if they took part in unauthorised protests.
Apprehension was felt even in Canberra, where the ABC spoke with several Russian nationals who asked not to be identified.
Each said that almost all Russians were horrified by the invasion.
The archpriest of Canberra's Russian Orthodox Church, Alexander Morozov, said the local community was in shock.
"It is an invasion, however you look at it," Father Morozov said.
"I condemn the invasion and those who are responsible for taking this step, which just does not solve anything."
Father Alexander said Russians and Ukrainians had extremely close bonds.
"The cradle of Russian Orthodoxy … is Kyiv, and so to have a situation where the child is now attacking the mother is devastating."
The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow has not yet condemned the war, though Father Alexander believed "in the days to come, we might see some stronger words".
Yet, regardless of official statements, Father Alexander said Russians in Australia were united.
"There is no tension, there is no division," he said.
"It's hard to, in any way, see this as anything but an incursion of one sovereign state into the territory of another."
