Today, 24th February, 2023, was the first anniversary of Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine. For the country's 43 million people, it was a sombre day.

Ukrainians described it as both terrible and inspiring for them, since the Ukraine has defied expectations that it might quickly fall to Moscow‘s invasion forces.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also gave a speech on the anniversary of the war. He said that the day was hard for Ukrainians, but "every tomorrow is worth fighting for."

"We have been standing for exactly one year,” Zelenskyy said. Feb. 24, 2022, he said, was “the longest day of our lives. The hardest day of our modern history. We woke up early and haven’t fallen asleep since."

.@ZelenskyyUa
Dozens, hundreds of thousands of photos that leave deep scars in your heart and soul. They remind us of the path we have gone from February to February. It must be in our DNA.

📷Alex Kent (Bucha,Ukraine) pic.twitter.com/VIQm4gei7p

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 23, 2023

According to the Irish Examiner, Daria Horda, 25, has not been able to see her family in Nova Kakhovka since Moscow‘s troops rolled across the Ukraine border on February 24, 2022.

She said: "For me, it’s a terrible pain and a day where I don’t want to go back in my thoughts or rewatch photos or videos. A very tough day."

Tetiana Klimkova, who was in line to buy anniversary commemorative postage stamps in Kyiv, said that she hasn't been able to shake “the feeling that your heart is constantly falling, it is falling and hurting”.

“This day has become a symbol for me that we have survived for a whole year and will continue to live,” she said. “On this day, our children and grandchildren will remember how strong Ukrainians are mentally, physically, and spiritually.”

For years, russians have been writing «to Berlin» on their cars & tanks. On this grim anniversary, a destroyed russian tank is displayed in front of their Embassy in Berlin - a symbol of their failure.
Thanks to the 🇩🇪 people & to my colleague Boris Pistorius for supporting 🇺🇦! pic.twitter.com/trhLEZNtU8

— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) February 24, 2023

In Berlin, a wrecked Russian tank was brought from Ukraine and placed in front of the Russian Embassy to mark the anniversary of Moscow‘s invasion.

The T-72 tank, which was destroyed in the early stages of the war in the Kyiv region, was displayed in Berlin's Unter den Linden Boulevard, in front of the embassy.

A private group brought it to Berlin, claiming that the Ukrainian defence ministry's military history museum had loaned the vehicle and assisted with logistics.

Wieland Giebel, one of the organisers of the Berlin Story group, stated that the entire world recognises that many Germans support Ukraine.

Here is a striking image from Serbia, where a pro-Ukrainian activist Čedomir Stojković has tried to deliver a bloody cake decorated with a skull to the Russian embassy in Belgrade. 🇷🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/fn96CTWaNo

— Philippe Poigeaud 🇺🇦 (@DiogenedArc) February 24, 2023

A group of anti-war activists in Serbia tried to reach the Russian embassy to present a skull-adorned cake to mark the anniversary of the war. The group has been stopped by the local police.

The activists left the cake soaked in red dye on the pavement near the embassy in central Belgrade. In addition, the activists wanted to hand embassy staff a demand for Russian President Vladimir Putin to stand trial for genocide.

Despite the Russian invasion, Serbia maintains friendly relations with Russia because of its traditional Slavic ally. Although Belgrade officially seeks to join the EU, it has refused to join Western sanctions.

With vigils and candlelight marches, people around the world marked the anniversary.

At cork vigil for Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Ufb95wyTYY

— occono 🌻 (@occono) February 24, 2023

One year on from Putin's illegal & immoral invasion, it was great to see support for Ukraine on the streets of #Newcastle.

Here at Monument, I joined a group of Ukrainian Geordies holding a vigil to mark the anniversary.

Slava Ukraini! ❤️🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/t3IddzNqaH

— Chi Onwurah 💙 (@ChiOnwurah) February 24, 2023

People gathered outside Russian Counsulat in NYC to hold a silent vigil for victims of the war in Ukraine. They spoke up against Putin and played video projection showing the death and destruction left since full-scale Russian invasion on February 24 2022.

Video by Ed Quinn… https://t.co/8RFWDeMeqG pic.twitter.com/KOaCfQ72db

— Oliya Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) February 24, 2023