Brighton and Hove has welcomed hundreds of Ukrainian refugees since the start of the Russian invasion, latest figures reveal.

Data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows that more than 500 Ukrainians have arrived in the city through the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme since the outbreak of war almost a year ago.

The scheme, also known as Homes for Ukraine, started in mid-March last year and allowed Ukrainian nationals and their families to come to the UK if they had a sponsor who could house them for at least six months.

Latest figures published by the government last week found that 508 Ukrainians have been housed in Brighton and Hove alone, with more than 4,000 refugees coming to Sussex as a whole.

City council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said that he is “exceptionally proud” of the city’s efforts to welcome Ukrainians who have fled their homes due to the invasion.

He said: “What we’ve been able to do over the last year is continue to provide a place of sanctuary for people fleeing war and persecution, and that has been applied no less to the awful situation in Ukraine.

“We’ve been very proud that people have felt not only welcome here but also been able to take part in community life here. We have also tried to listen hard to the Ukrainian community in terms of where funding from government grants should be directed to.

“Of course, they still miss home, but I am exceptionally proud that we have done what we can.”

Ukraine will mark one year since the start of the Russian invasion on Friday, with a minute’s silence announced by the British government for 11am that day.

Since the start of the war, more than eight million people have fled Ukraine to other parts of Europe - the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War and its aftermath.

In an address to the nation yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear he would not change his strategy in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

He cast Russia as the victims of double-dealing by Western nations and said that his country, not Ukraine, is fighting for its very existence.