Hundreds of people gathered in Manchester city centre on Saturday to mark two years since the war in Ukraine started. Russia began its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, eight years after Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine were invaded and later annexed.

Since then, almost 3,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia have arrived in Greater Manchester after being sponsored to stay at the homes across the city-region. The number of Ukrainian arrivals under the visa schemes has now topped 200,000 across the UK.

The event to mark the second anniversary of the war took place in Piccadilly Gardens. A group of Ukrainians have been meeting at this spot in the city centre every weekend since Russia's full-scale invasion started to raise awareness of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

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Speaking to the Manchester Evening News ahead of the second anniversary, Ukrainians living in the city-region have reflected on how their lives have changed over the last two years. They told the M.E.N. that it is difficult to put their feelings about the war into words.

Maria Romanenko, 31, a Ukrainian journalist from Kyiv who moved to Manchester with her partner Jez when the full-scale war started, said: "It's very sad, it's not something I expected to happen.

"But on the other hand, the fact that we are still fighting and resisting, and everyday defending our land against the second biggest army in the world, is obviously a good thing. Ukrainians are still carrying on, despite all the physical and mental challenges. That speaks a lot about Ukraine as a nation and about our identity and culture."

Look back at our live updates below...

Joseph Timan

End of live coverage

That brings our live coverage to a close. The event to mark two years since the war in Ukraine started saw hundreds of people march through Manchester city centre before returning to Piccadilly Gardens for speeches and more singing.

The Ukrainian national anthem was sung and a minute's silence was held. A full report from the event will follow.

Joseph Timan

More images from the march in Manchester

(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Joseph Timan

Images from today's march

(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
(Image: Kenny Brown)
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
(Image: Kenny Brown)
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Joseph Timan

Other anniversary events

The Manchester Stands with Ukraine group which organised the march today has been meeting at Piccadilly Gardens every weekend since the war broke out two years ago. Other events have been held in the city to mark the anniversary.

Before the march, Ukrainian literature was read at Manchester Central Library in a UNESCO Cities of Literature event. Other events are taking place across the UK today to mark two years since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Joseph Timan

Second anniversary event ends

The event to mark two years since the war in Ukraine started is coming to its conclusion with organisers thanking those who attended. Hundreds marched around Manchester city centre before returning to Piccadilly Gardens for speeches.

Joseph Timan

Minute's silence

Piccadilly Gardens has fallen silent to mark the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

Joseph Timan

National anthem

People gathered at Piccadilly Gardens are singing the Ukranian national anthem.

Joseph Timan

Speeches starting

People have now gathered back at Piccadilly Gardens following the march around the city centre to hear some speeches.

Joseph Timan

Back at Piccadilly Gardens

The people marching have returned to Piccadilly Gardens to meet those who were waiting at the starting point. Dozens of people have lined the perimeter of the green behind the Queen Victoria statue where the march started at 2pm today.

Joseph Timan

Singing from the front

The people at the front the march are still singing as they lead everyone back to the starting point at Piccadilly Gardens.

Joseph Timan

Return to Piccadilly Gardens

People are marching back up Portland Street as they return to Piccadilly Gardens. Some speeches are expected to be made there.

Joseph Timan

Harrowing tales from the Ukrainian frontline

Last week, a bombed-out ambulance from Ukraine was on display in Manchester city centre. Ukrainian medics visited the city, offering the public a chance to hear the testimony of those who have witnessed the horrors of the war first-hand.

A bombed-out Ukrainian ambulance on display in Piccadilly Gardens (Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)

You can read some of their stories here.

Joseph Timan

March turns past town hall

The march has turned past Manchester Town Hall. The building is still being renovated which means Albert Square is closed.

Joseph Timan

'Russia is a terrorist state'

Ukrainian music is being played as the march continues down Cross Street. People are chanting 'Russia is a terrorist state'.

Joseph Timan

March reaches St Ann's Street

Lots of people are now marching on Deansgate as the procession turns onto St Ann's Street.

Joseph Timan

March turns to Deansgate

The march has now reached Deansgate where the singing continues.

Joseph Timan

'10 years of resistance and bravery'

This is one of the banners on display at the rally. It reads '10 years of resistance and bravery'.

Today marks two years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. But eight years earlier, Russia invaded Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. Some of this Ukranian terrority was later annexed. Russian president Vladamir Putin announced a 'special military operation' to 'demilitarise and denazify' Ukraine on February 24, 2022 before the full scale invasion began.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Joseph Timan

'I feel very angry, I'm full of hate deep inside.'

Ahead of the second year anniversary of the war, M.E.N. reporter Declan Carey spoke to Ukrainians living in Greater Manchester. Philip Dovgopo said: "I feel very angry, I'm full of hate deep inside. I don't want to be, it's not who I am."

You can read the full story here.

Joseph Timan

March continues around the city centre

A long line of people is spiralling around Manchester city centre as the march continues onto Great Bridgewater Street

Joseph Timan

'Ukraine, united, will never be divided'

People taking part in the march are making their voices heard. They are chanting 'Ukraine, united, will never be divided'.

Joseph Timan

Hundreds join march

The march is continuing down Portland Street. Hundreds of people have joined, according to our reporter Amy Walker.

Joseph Timan

Almost 3,000 Ukrainians fled to Greater Manchester

Since Russian began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, almost 3,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Greater Manchester after being sponsored to stay at people's homes across the city-region. This week, the Manchester Evening News spoke to the caring Mancunians who have opened up their homes to those who have been forced to flee the war.

You can read the story by our reporter Paul Britton here.

Joseph Timan

Singing as march begins

The march has started with those at the front singing. People are heading from Piccadilly Gardens towards Portland Street.

Joseph Timan

Around 100 people gathered so far

There are around 100 people gathered near the Queen Victoria statue at Piccadilly Gardens at the moment, according to our reporter Amy Walker. Many are draped in Ukrainian flags, some are waving them. Here's a video of what it looks like.

Joseph Timan

Our reporter is at the rally

M.E.N. reporter Amy Walker is at the rally in Piccadilly Gardens. She will be bringing us live coverage from the event.

Joseph Timan

March starts at 2pm

Crowds are gathering ahead of the march which is set to start at 2pm. The event has been organised by the Manchester Stands With Ukraine group which meets at Piccadilly Gardens every Saturday at this time to raise awareness of the war.

The group is made of volunteers from around the world and has been meeting since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine started. This week, the group set out why people should attend the rally in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter.