Ukrainians went into this weekend expecting the worst

 
Schools were closed. Shops shut. People encouraged to work from home.

It was widely believed that Russia would launch a violent nationwide assault around the grim anniversary Friday, driven by drones and missiles.

But so far, nothing.

Instead, it appears that Russia has intensified fighting on the front line – some 650 kilometres from Kyiv.

And there is a caveat for the big cities that were prepared for the worst – now they worry Russia will plan a surprise bombardment at any point.

People were really expecting to spend the weekend underground, but air raid sirens only went off twice – and both times not for very long.

And the mood after one year is sombre.

Residents really expect this war to go on long past the summer, some say even for three or four more years.