Ljubljana/Maribor - More than a hundred people gathered in Ljubljana on Friday despite rain to protest against Russian aggression on Ukraine, shouting slogans and singing Ukrainian songs. Protesters also rallied against the war in Ukraine in Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city.

The Ljubljana rally had initially been planned in front of the Russian Embassy, but the area had been secured by increased police presence and fences.

Instead, the protesters gathered around the block in front of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art before heading off to walk around the fenced-off Russian Embassy and on to Prešeren Square where the rally wrapped up in just over an hour.

The protest organisers described the police presence and fences securing the Russian Embassy building as a "disgraceful move utterly disrespectful" of Ukraine, media have reported.

In Maribor the rally against the war in Ukraine was held in Freedom Square.

People from various parts of the world had already protested against Russian invasion on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Mayor Zoran Janković announced that Ljubljana Castle would be lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag tonight.

Support for Ukraine and an anti-war protest was also announced for tonight by the organisers of Friday's bicycle protests, which had been going on regularly for almost two years.

In calling for the protest they urged stopping "imperialist wars and those who incite them".

Today's protest will also mark 30 years since more than 25,000 people were deleted from Slovenia's residence registry.