One year ago today, the Russian military launched an invasion of Ukraine, causing tremendous devastation to the country. The impact of the war has been enormous, with millions of Ukrainians

displaced, tens of thousands of civilians killed or injured, and thousands of troops lost.

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the invasion and show solidarity with Ukraine, the Westminster City Council in London has decided to rename part of Bayswater Road. The stretch between Palace Court and Ossington Street will now be called ‘Kyiv Road’ after the Ukrainian capital. The Ukrainian community requested the name change, and the council has agreed to pay for it.

Adam Hug, the leader of Westminster City Council, explained that the name change is a small gesture but an important one. Westminster is home to many Ukrainians who have been displaced by the war, and the council wants to show its support for them. Hug said, ‘We want to show the people of Ukraine that their struggle has a visible place in our city.’

The name change took effect on February 24, and residents of the affected area do not need to change their address. This is just one of the events taking place across London to mark the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. A vigil was held in Trafalgar Square, and Marble Arch will be lit up in yellow and blue, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The flag will also fly above Westminster City Hall, and protestors have painted a Ukrainian flag on the road outside the Russian Embassy. Photo by Bayswater Road by Andrew Wilson, Wikimedia commons.