January
The first day of the year reached 16.3°C in St James’s Park, London. In France, 874 cars were set alight for the new year. Southern Railway suspended services because of staff absence through Covid. The legal obligation to wear face coverings in England ended. Sue Gray delivered her report into Downing Street parties. Together Energy became the 28th energy supplier to go bust as wholesale gas prices rose. Inflation reached 5.4 per cent. Some 1,339 migrants crossed the Channel in small craft. Around 100,000 Russian troops massed on the Ukraine border. Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia because he was not vaccinated against Covid.
February
The obligation to self-isolate after catching Covid was lifted in England. Boris Johnson, the prime minister, flew to Ukraine to stand next to President Zelensky. Russia invaded Ukraine. A 40-mile armoured convoy approached Kyiv. Volodymyr Zelensky rallied the nation. Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, used the Emergencies Act against lorry drivers protesting against compulsory vaccination for anyone driving in from the United States. Turkey told the world to call it Türkiye. The Queen signed a message for the 70th anniversary of her accession: ‘Your servant, Elizabeth R.’
March
The 400,000 people of Mariupol in Ukraine were left without light, heat or sanitation under bombardment, their houses burnt and bodies lying in the street. In Russia 4,644 demonstrators against the war were arrested on one day. Roman Abramovich was sanctioned; Chelsea football club functioned under licence. President Zelensky addressed a packed House of Commons by video.
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