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Hundreds of British-based Ukrainians gathered outside the Russian Embassy in London today to protest against the build-up of troops in the Crimea region.

The demonstrators chanted and held banners demanding "Hands off Ukraine".

Many of them waved placards accusing president Vladimir Putin of being the "Russian aggressor" and they sang: "Putin is a murderer" and "stop the occupation".

The protest was non-violent and the demonstrators remained behind metal barriers on the opposite side of the road from the embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens, west London.

Many cars sounded their horns in support as they drove past the 400-strong crowd.

Vladimir Kazantsev, who moved from Ukraine to London to work in IT, insisted that Russian-speaking people in his homeland do not need "protection" by Russian troops.

Ukrainians protest in London 10 show all Ukrainians protest in London 1/10 Political Poster accuses Vladimir Putin of exacerbating the conflict (Picture: PA) 2/10 Comparison Protester likens Putin to Hitler (Picture: PA) 3/10 Warning (Picture: AP) AP 4/10 Colourful (Picture: AP) AP 5/10 Opposition (Picture: PA) PA 6/10 Rally (Picture: AP) AP 7/10 Placards (Picture: PA) 8/10 Poster (Picture: AP) AP 9/10 Angry (Picture: PA) PA 10/10 Flags (Picture: PA) 1/10 Political Poster accuses Vladimir Putin of exacerbating the conflict (Picture: PA) 2/10 Comparison Protester likens Putin to Hitler (Picture: PA) 3/10 Warning (Picture: AP) AP 4/10 Colourful (Picture: AP) AP 5/10 Opposition (Picture: PA) PA 6/10 Rally (Picture: AP) AP 7/10 Placards (Picture: PA) 8/10 Poster (Picture: AP) AP 9/10 Angry (Picture: PA) PA 10/10 Flags (Picture: PA)

"I want Putin to respect the freedom of my country to elect our own Government and to choose our own destiny.

"We don't need this intervention and we don't need protection," he said.

"It's been heartbreaking. For the last three months we've been watching all the news and we can hardly sleep.

"I have a lot of relatives who still live in Kiev."

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Bogdan Maksak, a 20-year-old Ukrainian studying accounting and finance at City University London, attended the protest to call on Britain to uphold its commitment under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and take action against Russia.

The agreement, signed by the UK, USA, Russia and Ukraine, promised to uphold the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Mr Maksak said: "I would like to ask the British Government to assist Ukraine and also keep its promises of the. Budapest Memorandum.

"They have to make sure that we are protected and they also have to take action because at this stage staying neutral is almost like playing on the Russian side."

He went on: "We don't want to fight or have anything against the Russian people.

"They are our friends and our brothers.

"It's only politics that is trying to divide us but we will always be united."

Digital marketing consultant Anton Mishchenko, 24, who moved from Kiev to Shepherd's Bush, west London, said: "I've come here to support the battle of Ukrainians for democratic values and a democratic future within the European Union, and to oppose military intervention by - I don't want to say Russian - but rather their President."

He added: "Nobody wants war. If he says there's been pressure on the Russians in Crimea, there are various peaceful ways to solve these things.

"There's no need for war."