This weekend, local people will be marking two years of support for Ukraine.

On Saturday 24 February, residents are being encouraged to light a candle or put out a flag – and to tell your friends, family and neighbours that you support Ukraine.

While it may have faded from the news, the Russo-Ukrainian war continues, as does the destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure and the nightly bombing of its major towns - and the suffering it brings. 

Peterborough and Stamford based group Helping Our Ukrainian Friends (HOUF) is "determined to ensure that Ukraine doesn't disappear from our thinking." 

Communities across Peterborough and Stamford have already demonstrated their continued support: the group's delivery in November last year was the largest yet, including driving two ambulances to Kyiv. And in mid-February, they dispatched their 14th Aid Package, including 11 pallets of donated food, clothes, medicines, camping stoves, sanitary products and medicines by lorry to Poland, from where it will be taken to the front-line communities.

Saturday 24 February marks the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Since then 100,000s of people have died, 20% of the country remains occupied by Russia and millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, many of them taking shelter here with generous host families.

As such, on 24 February, the group is asking people across Peterborough and Stamford to mark this sad anniversary in the following ways

• Put up a Ukrainian Flag for the day, showing your respect and solidarity with Ukraine
• Or light a candle and place it in your window from 7-10pm
• Take photos of how you have marked the occasion and put them on your social media accounts with the words #IStandWithUkraine and tag the Facebook page.

Since the start of the war, the local group have delivered over 50 tonnes of aid, two ambulances - which are now busy doing their work with military units in eastern Ukraine - 37 generators, 20 heart valves, over 2000 gift boxes for children and thousands of battery packs, LED lights and torches.

Find out more on Facebook.