Ukrainians in Australia are praying for peace in their home country a year on from Russia's full-scale invasion.
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The Australian events follow similar tributes by Ukrainians and their allies around the world on the first anniversary of the attack, which has become the worst conflict in Europe since World War II.
Victorian parishioners and friends of the community will gather on Friday evening for a service in the Ukrainian Catholic Church at North Melbourne, followed by a candlelight vigil at Federation Square.
It was important for people to have something spiritual to remember the day by, Association of Ukrainians in Victoria board chair Tatiana Zachariak said.
"The purpose isn't just on our Ukrainian community today, it's also about saying thank you to Australia and the Australian government for the support they've given to Ukraine and the people who've had to flee to Australia," Ms Zachariak said.
"We also want to pass on the message that this isn't anything new in some ways. Russia has been attacking Ukraine for nearly 400 years."
The community did not want people to get Ukrainian fatigue and instead wanted them to remember a sovereign country had been attacked and was fighting for democracy, Ms Zachariak said.
It also wanted to remind Australia and the rest of the world Ukraine required ongoing, rather than ad hoc, support.
"It should remind Australian people too, that what we have here is very precious," Ms Zachariak said.
"Those people that have come from Ukraine can't believe what a fantastic country this is."
Melbourne was on Friday night set to light up in blue and yellow in support of Ukraine, with Melbourne Town Hall, Federation Square, Flinders Street Station and the National Gallery of Victoria among the buildings to take on the country's national colours.
In Tasmania, Hobart's Tasman Bridge was expected to be lit in blue and yellow on Friday night to mark last year's February 24 invasion.
At Aristocrat Leisure's annual general meeting in Sydney on Friday, chairman Neil Chatfield took a moment to pause and acknowledge the anniversary.
"This will be a day of sombre reflection for many people, and indeed people around the world," he said.
The Australian electronic gaming giant had about 1000 staff working in Ukraine at its Pixel United mobile gaming subsidiary when the war began, three-quarters of whom have been relocated to safer locations either within the country or abroad.
Aristocrat set up a team in Poland to assist with transport, visas and housing assistance for the relocated staff, as well as stopped offering its mobile games within Russia, and set up four new global offices to accommodate people relocated from Ukraine.
"The thoughts of all of us remain firmly with our Ukraine colleagues, particularly on this day," Mr Chatfield said.
Hundreds of members of Sydney's Ukrainian community and their supporters held a vigil outside St Mary's Cathedral on Thursday evening.
Australian Associated Press
