English: Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey and Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko spoke to hundreds of recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and UK instructors at a commemorative service to mark a year since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.Also in attendance were officials representing nations contributing to the UK-led training of Ukrainian recruits in crucial frontline combat skills including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway and Swede, as well as representatives from the USA, EU and France.Soldiers stood side-by-side to observe a one-minute silence in memory of all those lost as a result of Russia’s invasion and observed the National Anthem of Ukraine. Addresses were delivered from a Ukrainian Orthodox Church priest, Mr Prystaiko and Defence Minister Heappey.Ukrainian recruits are currently in the UK as part of a training programme to equip Ukrainian recruits with no prior combat experience in crucial frontline skills.The training programme is part of the UK’s enduring commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s unprovoked invasion.Over 1,000 UK service personnel are deploying to run the programme, which is taking place at MOD sites in the North, South-West and South-East of the UK.Each course will last several weeks and will be conducted by elements from 11 Security Force Assistance Brigade together with international forces including Canada, New Zealand and The Netherlands.The latest cohort of recruits joining the programme will mark the 10,000th recruit to take part in the programme. Since the illegal invasion in February of 2022, the UK has committed to supporting Ukraine and is the second largest military to donate to Ukraine, with a commitment of£2.3 billion in 2022.The UK is the first country to donate Western main battle tanks by gifting a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks with armoured recovery and repair vehicles, as well as a battery of eight AS90 guns at“high readiness” and a further two batteries at “varying states of readiness.”