THE leader of Renfrewshire Council has paid tribute to Ukraine on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.

In a message to mark one year on from the start of the conflict, Iain Nicolson also praised local communities for playing their part to help the victims of the war.

More than 160 people from Ukraine have moved into settled accommodation in Renfrewshire over the past year after leaving their war-torn homeland.

Councillor Nicolson said: "We have a history of welcoming and supporting refugees to settle in Renfrewshire. 

"What Ukrainian refugees have been through is unimaginable and I am delighted they have been welcomed by our local communities. 

"I know many staff and local organisations have supported those forced to flee and this reflects our commitment to supporting those in need."

The anniversary of the conflict was marked by a minute's silence observed across the country at 11am today, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined outside No. 10 by his wife Akshata Murty, Kyiv's ambassador to Britain Vadym Prystaiko and dozens of Ukrainian troops being trained in the UK.

When Mr Putin launched his renewed invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year, many believed his military might would capture Kyiv within weeks or even days.

But the Ukrainian resistance led by Mr Zelensky and assisted by the weapons and support provided by allies, including Britain, repelled the invasion to the east.

At least 100,000 of each side’s soldiers are estimated to have been killed or injured, thousands more civilians have died and more than 13 million people have been made refugees or displaced inside Ukraine.