Hundreds of Ukrainians have gathered in Sydney's centre to demonstrate against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with expats telling harrowing stories of family members sheltering from rockets in underground bunkers.
A crowd of about 300, including Ukrainians standing alongside Russians, called for the world's powers to react in more certain terms, saying their country was being "openly bombed" and Russian President Vladimir Putin had no regard for international law.
Ukrainian construction worker Bogdan Koldunenko told AAP he felt "every rule that was in the world, all of a sudden had been broken".
Mr Koldunenko, whose father lives in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, said his dad last night heard explosions at nearby Boryspil airport.
"I don't know what will happen to my father," he said, adding his dad's concerns were in the "immediate five minutes" and he was planning for the event of a bombing.
"There is always the threat of a missile firing somewhere," Mr Koldunenko said.
"Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons for the betterment of the world. And what does the world have to say in return?
"We're being openly invaded, we are being bombed. We have learned over the last few days, there are no rules to Putin.
"He does not acknowledge rationality."
Russian man Nikita Abamov, who was at the demonstration with Mr Koldunenko and another Ukrainian man, Artem Nosovtsev, said he felt the sanctions would only hit regular Russians and would not affect the country's military attacks in Ukraine.
"I think usual people, they're going to have a really hard time," he said.
"Most of the people (in Russia) are not supporting Putin.
"They're trying to (go) quiet. We're trying to find a way to protest, but it's a little bit cautious."
Mr Abamov said Russia had cracked down on dissent.
"Russian forces already learn how to separate all the opposition, because every time people go into meetings, they're going to be suspended, or they're going to be fired from work," he said.
"Or they're going to be put into cells and beaten up."
Anton Muratov was at the demonstration with Maryna Shaposhnikova, and said all their friends and relatives are in Ukraine.
The pair from Kharkiv, which has been hit by air strikes in recent days, said they have been contending with worrying updates as their families shelter in a basement.
"We are waiting, because they say Russia will attack at four, which is in one hour and 15 minutes," Ms Shaposhnikova told AAP.
She said her news feed has been filled with a "lot of fake news".
"It's hard to understand what is real", she said, adding friends and family have been "scared and telling people to hide" every few minutes.
"You are so far away and feel alienated here, but we're trying to support them as much as we can."