Ukrainian people joined Havering councillors and staff for a ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the war with Russia.

The commemorations were held at Havering Town Hall on Friday (February 24).

The Ukrainian flag was raised to full mast, a blue and yellow wreath was laid and a minute’s silence was observed at 11am to pay respect to the Ukrainians who lost their lives and homes in the war.

This was followed by a speech by the borough's mayor Trevor McKeever and a prayer by Reverend Father Roderick Hingley of St Alban's Vicarage.

Mariana Nakonechna, a Ukrainian resident who fled the war last year and now works in the council’s resettlement team, read a traditional Ukrainian prayer.

Read More: Emotional and physical impact of war ‘huge’ – social worker in Ukraine 

Cllr McKeever said: “It is important for the borough to come together and show our support as we pay tribute to the Ukrainian community.

“We stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian community, on what is a very traumatic day for them and as they think of loved ones back home and those they have lost.”

More than eight thousand Ukrainian civilians have died since Russia invaded the country in 2022, according to the United Nations.