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Anniversary of the invasion: tanks, a peace paper, protests
Summary
A look back at 24 February 2023, when the first year of the war was marked by new weapons deliveries, a Chinese position paper and demonstrations worldwide.
What did a year of war look like on 24 February 2023? On the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, military supply, diplomacy and street protest all pointed in different directions.
Weapons arrive
Poland delivered the first Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine on that day, as part of the wider military aid to Ukraine during the war. The delivery marked a concrete step in the western supply of armour.
A Chinese paper
China unveiled a 12-point position paper on ending the war, ahead of an expected speech on the conflict by President Xi Jinping. Ukraine said it hoped China could urge Russia to withdraw its troops in response to the paper. The exchange showed how far apart the expectations remained: Kyiv framed withdrawal as the goal, while the paper itself was presented as a position on ending the war.
Protests at home and abroad
In Russia, anti-war activists were detained as protesters marked the anniversary. Elsewhere, protests took place in countries around the world, and major landmarks were lit up to mark the date.
The tension had been visible a day earlier. On 23 February 2023, pro-Ukraine protesters confronted visitors heading to the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C.
What the day showed
The anniversary combined three strands: arms deliveries reaching Ukraine, a diplomatic proposal from China that Kyiv hoped would translate into pressure on Moscow, and public demonstrations that drew detentions in Russia and visible displays of solidarity abroad. Taken together, they described a war entering its second year with military, diplomatic and public dimensions all active.
