UNITED WE STAND

HOW GREATER MANCHESTER HAS HELPED UKRAINE DURING YEAR OF WAR

- By PAUL BRITTON

A YEAR ago today, the world woke up to war.

In the early hours, the first wave of Russian president Vladimir Putin's barbaric invasion of peaceful Ukraine saw air strikes hit major cities and military bases in the country, as desperate civilians piled into trains and cars to flee to wherever they could.

Images of families sheltering in subways as air raid sirens sounded outside dominated news bulletins reporting the ever increasing death toll. The war led to the displacement of millions of Ukrainians, a large number of whom now thankfully call Greater Manchester their home.

The region has always stood firm with Ukraine and its people. And within just 24 hours of the first Russian missiles falling - many indiscriminately hitting schools and hospitals Manchester found its collective voice and has continued to shout loudly in support of the war-torn country and against Russia ever since.

Then City footballer and Ukrainian international Oleksandr Zinchenko, his hand clasped over his heart, joined hundreds of young Ukrainians at a candlelit vigil in Manchester's St Peter's Square in the wake of the invasion of their homeland.

Manchester's central library was lit up in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag. As darkness fell in the city centre, they sang together the Ukrainian national anthem, all thoughts remaining firmly with loved ones at home.

In towns across Greater Manchester, stories of families waiting anxiously for news began to emerge as the invasion was condemned by global world leaders.