Region marks anniversary of invasion of Ukraine

Vigils and services have been held across the east on the eve of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Sunday's events included gatherings of Ukrainian refugees and their host families in Norfolk, Suffolk and Buckinghamshire.

Fighting has been raging since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Nataliya Lawson, a Ukrainian attending a church service in the village of Emberton, near Milton Keynes, said it was "very painful" to think about "all this tragedy".

Ms Lawson, who is now living in the UK, said it was important to remember how many lives had been lost.

The service also honoured Ukraine's resistance and thanked those who had given refugees shelter.

Among those gathered in the church was Olga Bilokin, who, like Ms Lawson, is living in the UK.

She said: "I like this country. I like these people, and they help us so much.

"But I want to go back to Ukraine. I want peace for Ukraine, but today we're together."

Meanwhile in Ipswich, people gathered in the town centre to show solidarity with Ukraine.

Afterwards, they walked to Ipswich Minster for a service, part of which was taken in Ukrainian.

Alan Cutting, from the Christian organisation Together for Ipswich, said: "It is an opportunity for the Ukrainian community to meet together for lament, for solidarity, for prayer and for unity."

On the steps of City Hall in Norwich, there was another gathering to mark the anniversary of the invasion.

Many people there were either from Ukraine or had hosted refugees.

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