A group of passionate activists in Greece took to the streets to block a convoy of NATO trucks carrying weapons to Ukraine. The protest, organized by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its youth branch, KNE, took place in the small town of Tyrnavos, located in the Thessaly region.
On Wednesday, the protesters gathered on a major highway in Tyrnavos, aiming to stop six trucks loaded with missiles and other ammunition. These trucks were en route to Ukraine as part of military aid, delivered under agreements between the Greek and Ukrainian governments. The convoy came from a local Greek army base, and the vehicles bore plates from Ukraine, Poland, and Bulgaria.
The protesters, waving banners and shouting slogans like “NATO Killers Go Home!”, were determined to stop the deadly cargo from reaching its destination. Their message was clear: they did not want Greece to be dragged into the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine by supporting NATO’s military actions.
The protesters were furious at the Greek government, accusing them of using the country’s resources to fuel an “unjust war” led by NATO, the U.S., and the European Union. Vasilis Metaxas, a Member of the European Parliament from KKE, said, “We denounce the government for sending ammunition to Ukraine and dragging Greece into this imperialist conflict.”
The protesters raised another concern about the safety of transporting such dangerous cargo in the middle of a busy city. They feared that the trucks carrying weapons could endanger the lives of local residents. In fact, after the activists blocked the road, the trucks were forced to take a different route, marking a rare victory for the protesters.
The action didn’t stop with the roadblock. Afterward, the activists marched through the town with local residents, including the mayor of Tyrnavos, Stelios Tsikritsi, who voiced his strong opposition to the war. “We won’t allow the death cargo to pass through our town,” he said, echoing the sentiments of the community. “The people of Tyrnavos have a history of fighting for peace, and we will not let our country be dragged further into this imperialist slaughter.”
This protest is just the latest chapter in Greece’s complicated relationship with the war in Ukraine. While the Greek government has supported Ukraine, supplying weapons and ammunition, many Greek citizens feel uncomfortable with their country’s involvement in the conflict. Greece signed a security agreement with Ukraine last month, promising to help train Ukrainian pilots for US-made fighter jets, further strengthening the country’s role in NATO’s military efforts.
But not everyone agrees with this. Russia has warned that continued military aid to Ukraine will only fuel the conflict, making it more difficult to reach a peaceful resolution.
This protest in Tyrnavos serves as a stark reminder that many Greeks remain opposed to the war and the role NATO is playing in it. The images of trucks retreating from the protesters’ blockade will likely stay in the minds of many, as the debate over Greece’s involvement in Ukraine rages on.
