Refugees and supporters came together in Weymouth for a poignant candlelit vigil to mark the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.

The vigil - which took place by the Jubilee Clock on the Weymouth seafront - took place exactly one year on from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on Friday, February 24.

It was an emotional scene for all Ukrainians attending as they sang the national anthem, prayed and lit candles which were placed at the foot of the Jubilee Clock.

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Some recalled the first days of the war, being woken up early in the morning by missiles to a war that has shaken their lives.

Yuliia Dieieva, from Zaporizhzhia, said: "It is important that we are together for this day.

"We all remember this day one year ago, waking up to hear explosions.

"Our community wants to return to our country. For us, Ukraine is the best place in the world to live."

More than 200 people braved the wind to attend, primarily Ukranian refugees living in the area, as well as Brits who wanted to show their support.

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Another Ukrainian, Valentyna Maryukevych, recalled being interviewed by a German reporter in the central square of Kyiv when the invasion first started. She told the reporter that she couldn't believe that war had broken out - that Russia would invade.

Oleskii Brechko from Kyiv said: "It is really important to get together today to show support for our country and army, to talk about Ukraine and speak to one another."

Maryna Dobvysh is one of the organisers of the event. She said: "I appreciate that a lot of people came.

"We will never forget everything that happened. We will never be the same as before. But we will be even more proud of our army, volunteers, all Ukrainians who continue to struggle at home and abroad, who do what they can every day and who have shown the world what indomitability is."

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The clock was once more lit up in the colours of Ukraine, blue and yellow, the same as almost one year ago, when another vigil took place to show solidarity with Ukraine when the war first broke out.

Weymouth Mayor Ann Weaving attended to lay down a candle. She said: "It was very moving. For a long time, I've felt we cannot be closer to the Ukrainian people. That the people fighting in Ukraine are our boys too, fighting for the free world."

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