Good evening. One year on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we bring you analysis of the weapons that have defined the war, as Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv's "victory is inevitable" if all of Ukraine's partners "do their homework".
Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines
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The big story: How weapons have defined the war
In the year since Russia launched its full scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, both sides have defied expectations about how they would perform.
From the outset, Russian forces – purportedly from the second most powerful military globally – failed to achieve their goals, mired in a morass of poor planning, inept leadership, equipment failure and at times drunkenness.
Ukrainian forces meanwhile mounted a heroic defence against what initially seemed like insurmountable odds, revealing in the process how far a Nato-backed reform programme had upgraded a military that just eight years earlier had been in ruins.
Campbell MacDiarmid writes that from the beginning, one factor stood out as having the power to define the outcome of the war – foreign military support to Ukraine.
Fighting a better armed enemy with massive stockpiles, a well-developed defence industry, and virtually inexhaustible manpower, Ukraine needed support from its allies to survive. Recognition of this has led Kyiv's allies to commit ever greater quantities of heavier and more complex weapons, a flow that now reaches billions of dollars every month.
While Western weapons like NLAWs and Himars kept Ukraine in the fight, Russian weapons have proved the old adage attributed to Stalin that “quantity has a quality all its own”.
Click here to find out more about the five weapons that are shaping the war in Ukraine.
Today, Poland delivered the first Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine - you can follow the latest news on our Ukraine live blog.
Meanwhile, the King has said it is “heartening” that the UK is doing all it can to support Ukraine. In a personal statement released to mark the first anniversary of the conflict, the King hailed the “global outpouring of support” and said the West stands “united” against the “unnecessary suffering” inflicted by Russia.
Over the last year, many Britons have aided Ukrainians in their hour of need - in a remarkable story, one Russian Telegraph reader offered her home to Ukrainians after they saved her husband’s life.
Here are some other ways in which Telegraph readers are aiding the Ukrainian war effort.
Zelensky marks anniversary with speech
Every Ukrainian knows someone who no longer picks up the phone, Volodymyr Zelensky has said in a speech to mark the anniversary of the invasion.
Exactly 12 months after Vladimir Putin sent Russian troops across the border, the Ukrainian president commemorated Kyiv's war dead.
“Every Ukrainian has lost someone during this year: a father, a son, a brother, a mother, a daughter or a sister,” Mr Zelensky said in a heartfelt video message. “Almost everyone has at least one contact in their phone book who will never pick up the phone and will never reply to ‘How are you?’"
The Ukrainian president said February 24, 2022 marked “the longest day of our lives”. He added: “It’s the hardest day in modern history. We woke up early and we haven’t fallen asleep since."
How the war could end
At a press conference in Kyiv today, Mr Zelensky said "victory is inevitable" if all of Ukraine's partners "do their homework".
Meanwhile, China is considering sending 100 kamikaze drones to Russia, as it published a peace plan to mark the anniversary of the invasion.
Sophia Yan reports that the 12-point statement, which called for a ceasefire and peace talks, is at odds with a report in the German magazine, Der Spiegel, which revealed a Chinese manufacturer is in talks to sell 100 drones capable of carrying 50kg worth of warheads to the Russian military.
Alexander Graef writes that a full Russian victory – the total seizure of Ukrainian territory and regime change in Kyiv – is now almost certainly out of reach. He argues that there are at least three reasons for this - which you can find out here.
Comment and analysis
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- Jamie Carragher | Forget Haaland, Rashford can be Player of the Year
- Kate Andrews | China has a malign grip on UK steel supplies
World news: Bird flu kills school girl in Cambodia
Scientists testing a dozen people for avian influenza in Cambodia have said the father of an 11-year-old who died from the disease is infected. Reports of a possible human cluster of H5N1 have caused unease among scientists and health officials around the world. Sarah Newey reports that over the past two years, the lethal pathogen has devastated bird populations in unprecedented numbers and has more recently jumped into mammals including mink, foxes and sealions. There are also signs it may be mutating, which could eventually enable H5N1 to spread efficiently in humans.
Interview of the day
Meet the British Council’s CEO: ‘We have a mandate to keep things going – even in tough times’
From staging Shakespeare in war-torn Yemen to training teachers in Ukraine, Scott McDonald talks about the organisation's soft power abroad
Sport news: Ten Hag labels Newcastle 'annoying'
Erik ten Hag has warned his Manchester United players not to let “annoying” Newcastle’s time-wasting antics disrupt their game in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley. James Ducker reports that Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, and his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta have both complained about Newcastle’s perceived time-wasting this season. And now Ten Hag has told his players to watch out for Newcastle’s antics, calling on referee David Coote to get tough with any such behaviour.
Editor's choice
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Business news: TSSA rail union accepts pay deal
Thousands of rail staff have accepted a pay deal rejected earlier this month by the RMT union. Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) have voted to accept offers by train companies in the long-running dispute, the union announced. The offer accepted by the TSSA includes at least a 9pc increase over two years, rising to over 14pc for the lowest paid workers.
Reports from Ukraine: One year on from the invasion
'The chances of Ukrainian soldiers returning to normal life are ruined - many are technically blind' | Telegraph reader Tom Ogilvie-Graham shares his experience of travelling to Ukraine to personally deliver eye-surgery equipment and supplies.
Tonight starts now
Not all pasta is made equal - which one to buy | As the Telegraph's thrifty buys expert, Xanthe Clay seeks out the best value staples to make you a savvier shopper. She explains why it's worth being pernickety when it comes to pasta.
Three things for you
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And finally... for this evening's downtime
How to have the perfect holiday in Provence | How do you experience the best Provence has to offer in a 12-day trip? By following the ultimate itinerary created by our expert.
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