Boris Johnson's foul-mouthed response when he heard Putin had invaded - updates

What Vladimir Putin could do next from using nuclear weapons to desperate new offensive

Russia's invasion has reached its one-year anniversary and Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been shy to do all he can to make Ukrainian lives hell.

Russian troops at the command of Kremlin brutes used cruelty against innocent civilians, including aerial bombardments, rape, and unlawful imprisonment.

But despite this, Putin is still statistically losing the war which sadly makes any signs of his brutalities abating slim.

Kyiv’s intelligence agencies believe 145,000 Russian troops have died in the year since, taking with them tens of thousands of Ukrainians.

What might happen next and what can we expect the brute to do in order to try to make more gains?

Click here to find out

Three words Boris Johnson said when he heard Putin had invaded Ukraine have been revealed

Shortly after 4am local time on February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and world leaders across the globe were stunned, including the then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Fears about Russian President Putin’s intentions had been mounting but no one was really sure he would pull the trigger.

Give Ukraine western fighter jets to fight Russians, urges Boris Johnson

The warmonger appeared on Russian television to announce the beginning of what he called a “special military operation" and Mr Johnson was awoken in the middle of the night at 10 Downing Street with a call from one of his advisers who broke the news.

The British Prime Minister responded with an obscenity directed at Putin: "That f***ing c***", the Washington Post has revealed.

He told the publication: "I was disgusted by Putin. I was disgusted by what he was doing. I was nauseated by his language, by his lies, by his aggression, by his condescension toward Ukraine. I thought the whole thing was repellent, arrogant, chauvinistic, wrong."

(Alexei Nikolsky/TASS)

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Vladimir Putin to ‘put screws harder and harder’ into Ukraine as his war aims fail

Vladimir Putin is set to "put the screws harder and harder" into Ukrainians as the war hits its one-year anniversary and has not reached the aims he had hoped for, an expert has claimed.

Marc Garlasco, a war crimes investigator who analysed Russian activity in Syria for the United Nations, told The Mirror: "There's not an 'oh my god after one year in Syria, the Russians started doing this' moment.

"But every time they [Syria and Russia] had their back against the wall, the Russians would start to put the screws into the Syrian population harder and harder until they broke.

"I think that's what we're going to be seeing happen. Unfortunately, Ukrainian civilians are going to continue to pay the brunt of this."

Russia is not anywhere near close to achieving its stated war aims and a recent estimate by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) suggests it has lost 40-50 per cent of its prewar tank fleet.

Mr Garlasco said: "When we look at the war in Syria when they faced opposition, they were able to then use certain things to bypass opposition and get success."

The former Pentagon intelligence analyst, points towards airstrikes.

Mr Garlasco says the airstrikes that we've seen thus far in Ukraine have been minimal in comparison to what we saw in Syria.

"Part of that is because of the tenacity of the Ukrainian Air Force and air defences," he says but fears they may ramp up.

Read more here

The hero behind Ukraine's resistance against Russia's war machine

Previously President Volodymyr Zelensky may have been relatively unknown to those without eastern European political interest, but the invasion thrust his face across the globe.

While Zelensky has previously admitted that invasion scares him, he knows he cannot cow to Vladimir Putin and that showing any fear will play into Russia’s hands.

One continuous thread throughout the inconceivable horrors in the last year is the Ukrainian resistance and hope.

And it is Zelsenky who has held this up.

Read the full profile here

(AFP via Getty Images)

Russia claims to have killed up to 240 Ukrainian soldiers

Moscow has claimed to have killed up to 240 Ukrainian troops in the eastern Donetsk region in the last 24 hours.

The country's defence ministry claimed its forces are continuing to attack along the area's frontline as part of its "special military operation".

It added that units of Russia's Southern Group of Forces launched a "comprehensive fire attack" on Ukrainian troops and their equipment.

UK holds minute's silence to mark war anniversary

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak observed a minute's silence while standing outside Number 10 and was joined by the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, and members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Two women sang the Ukrainian national anthem to mark the end of the moment and a wreath featuring the colours of the Ukrainain flag were placed on the doorstep of the PM's home.

Areas across the UK are also observing the silence to remember those who have died in the conflict.

Refugee turned frontline vet says Ukrainians and pets are 'freezing and hungry'

A woman who was forced to flee her home in Kharkiv, Ukraine, last year is now supporting fellow refugees and abandoned animals in the war-torn country. Veronika Herasymenko works as a veterinarian and charity responder with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to provide emergency aid and evacuation.

Her current focus is moving wild animals away from dangerous hot spots and derelict cities, as well as trying to provide rescue shelters on the border with much-needed food supplies. Veronika told the Mirror: "There is a lot of work today with shelters that need help with food and clinics that treat wounded animals."

Veronika is in 24-hour contact with Ukrainian volunteers and animal centres, as well as responding to veterinary issues on the frontline.

"The main focus for us is the evacuation of wild animals from hot spots and de-occupied cities," she explained.

"The recent evacuation was of a lion from Sumy region. The lion cannot walk and is very emaciated and frightened."

Read the full story here

(International Fund for Animal Welfare)

Russian invasion maps show Vladimir Putin's war has failed to meet objectives

On Friday the British Ministry of Defence released its analysis of the past 12 months of war in Ukraine - saying Russia had "likely failed to meet any of its operational and strategic objectives"

Russia expected to "denazify" and "demilitarise" Ukraine in a matter of days - but one year on almost everything Vladimir Putin set out to do has failed miserably.

The British Ministry of Defence on Friday said the invasion of 190,000 Russian troops from the north, east and south in February 2022 "didn't go to plan".

In a tweet, it said: “358 days after Russia’s D-Day they continue a grinding offensive in the Donbas.

“But at D+358 they’re not where they likely hoped to be in this sector by D+10.

As cities like Mariupol were reduced to rubble, other towns became hubs of some of the most hideous war crimes reported in recent history. Since their liberation, these areas have been scoured for evidence of atrocities.

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Boris Johnson and Sadiq Khan attend prayer service

A service is being held at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London, to pay tribute to those who have died during the conflict.

Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko was there alongside former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Mayor Sadiq Khan.

(PA)

'People of Ukraine have suffered unimaginably' - A message from King Charles

Ukrainians have "suffered unimaginably" due to Russia's invasion, King Charles has said.

The 74-year-old monarch said: "The world has watched in horror at all the unnecessary suffering inflicted upon Ukrainians, many of whom I have had the great pleasure of meeting here in the UK and, indeed, across the world, from Romania to Canada.

"It is heartening that the United Kingdom, along with its allies, is doing everything possible to help at this most difficult time," the King said.

"Therefore, I can only hope the outpouring of solidarity from across the globe may bring not only practical aid but also strength from the knowledge that, together, we stand united."

Charles with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Buckingham Palace today (PA)

Vladimir Putin 'terribly scared' one year on from his illegal invasion of Ukraine

Vladimir Putin is “terribly scared” as he marks the first anniversary of his invasion of Ukraine, says a Russian general.

The dictator has badly misread the West’s resolve to stand up to him and did not realise his army’s incompetence, according to the former chief of the Moscow division of the FSB.

“Putin perfectly understands the mood of people who have lost everything because of him,” said retired General Yevgeny Savostyanov.

“Putin is now terribly scared. He understands that he is in trouble."

Putin's problems were self-inflicted by going to war in Ukraine, he said: "He lived happily [yet] with his own hands, he took and ruined everything. Amazing story.”

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Ukrainian troops gather at UK army camp to commemorate lives lost

Ukrainian troops and their UK military instructors have commemorated all the lives lost during Russia's invasion.

They gathered at Lydd army camp in Kent to mark today's anniversary and held a minute's silence.

Zelenksy attends military service in Kyiv

President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently at a service in Kyiv to honour serving military servicemen and those that have died in the war

Medals are being presented to soldiers and military leaders, as well as the families of the dead, outside St Sophia Cathedral.

"It's actually quite remarkable that they are having a parade and a memorial service like this today, standing in the open in Kyiv," General Sir Richard Barrons, former commander of Joint Forces Command told Sky News.

"That shows how much they think they have done to repel the Russian invasion and how confident they are about how, as long as the West continues to support Ukraine, Ukraine will prevail in the end."

(Sky News)

China urges Russia to ceasefire in Ukraine

China is pushing for Ukraine and Russia to agree a ceasefire and has issued a 12-point proposal.

While claiming to be neutral, China has also said it has a "no limits" relationship with Russia and has refused to criticise its invasion of Ukraine.

It has accused the West of provoking the conflict and "fanning the flames" by providing Ukraine with defensive arms. The US has also said China may be preparing to provide Russia with military aid, something Beijing says lacks evidence.

Read more here

(Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock)

Slovyansk in Donetsk was shelled by Russian forces

Ukraine’s state broadcaster Suspilne has reported overnight the city of Slovyansk in Donetsk was shelled by Russian forces. It says “private houses were damaged by shelling” but there were no reports of any injuries as of yet.

Photos from the frontline

Below are some of the 25 most profound pictures from a year of vicious conflict. Click here for the full 25.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Zelensky's anniversary message

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion on Friday with a prerecorded speech, saying they will win the war.

In a 15-minute speech, entitled, "the year of invincibility," he said: "A year ago on this day, from this same place around seven in the morning, I addressed you with a brief statement, lasting only 67 seconds.

"...we are strong. We are ready for anything. We will defeat everyone. This is how it began on February 24, 2022. The longest day of our lives. The most difficult day in our recent history. We woke up early and haven't slept since."

(President.gov)

Ukraine's first lady said she will not mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion today

Ukraine's First Lady has said Ukraine will not mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion today- but a year of successful resistance.

Olena Zelenska said her country had suffered a "year of hell" when remotely addressing an event in Vilnius, Lithuania.

"A year of the full-scale war is a terrible date to mark," she said. "It is a year of attack, aggression, and murders.

"Today we are not commemorating a year of the war, but we are celebrating a year of resistance to aggression, a year of courage, a year of mutual assistance and rescue of each other, a year of humanity, and a year of friendship.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Central London street renamed Kyiv Road

A street in the UK's capital is to be renamed Kyiv Road to mark the one-year anniversary of the invasion.

A section of Bayswater Road, running from Palace Court to Ossington Street, which is not far from the Russian embassy will take the name.

Westminster Council leader Adam Hug said the request had come from the Ukrainian community and was a "fitting gesture" to mark the country's bravery.

He said: It's a small stretch of road, but we want to show the people of Ukraine that their struggle has a visible place in our city."

There are currently 16,000 Ukrainian refugees living in London, according to the mayor's office.

The new Kyiv Road sign will go up later today and the nearby Marble Arch will also be lit up in Ukrainian colours.