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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Elly Blake and Elliot Wagland

Russia-Ukraine crisis: Before and after photos show scale of Ukraine destruction

Two weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine and cities, towns and villages in the country have been left devastated in the fighting.

Ukrainian emergency services said that more than 2,000 Ukrainian civilians have died since the Russian invasion began on February 24.

Hundreds of structures, including transport facilities, hospitals, kindergartens and homes have been destroyed in the ongoing bombing, it added.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said it was “the worst military aggression in Europe for decades”.

“The days to come are likely to be worse, with more death, more suffering and more destruction”, he said from Brussels.

These before and after images reveal some of the destruction to both government and civilian infrastructure since the war began.

Bucha, near Kyiv

Bucha satellite images (ES Composite)

This satellite image shows residential Vokzalna Street in Bucha, a city in Ukraine’s Kyiv Oblast, before the war.

Bucha has been near-destroyed by Russian attacks in recent days.

The after image shows the same street has been devastated left following missile attacks, including destroyed buildings and vehicles.

Irpin, near Kyiv

Residential block in Irpin (Google)
Residential block in Irpin (Reuters)

Irpin is a small city just 12 miles northwest of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

The city has found itself on the frontline between Russian and Ukrainian forces during the conflict.

These images show damage caused to a residential apartment block in Irpin, leaving it near destroyed in the fighting.

Bridge in Irpin (ES Composite)

These images show a bridge in the city of Irpin, which neighbours Kyiv.

Locals say the bridge was destroyed to stop the advancing Russian tanks after reports of a 40-mile long Russian convoy was moving towards the capital.

Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine

City Hall building in Kharkiv (Google)
City Hall building in Kharkiv (Associated Press)

Since the invasion began Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, has seen some of the worst fighting.

These image show the City Hall building in the central square following shelling from Russian forces.

Russian forces fired a cruise missile into the local administration building on Wednesday, the deputy governor of the region Roman Semenukha said.

Constitution Square in Kharkiv (ES Composite)

This picture shows the before and after of missile strikes on Kharkiv’s Constitution Square on March 1, leaving a wake of destruction including damaged buildings and rubble strewn across the street.

Regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said at the time: “This morning the central square of our city and the headquarters of the Kharkiv administration was criminally attacked.

“Russian occupiers continue to use heavy weaponry against the civilian population”.

More devastation in Kharkiv (Google)
More devastation in Kharkiv (AFP Photo)

These pictures show a damaged city council building in Kharkiv on March 1.

The city has been hit by heavy shelling since the invasion started.

At least 21 people were killed and 112 wounded in shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in the last 24 hours, regional governor Oleg Synegubov said on Wednesday.

University building in Kharkiv (ES Composite)

These images are of Karazin Kharkiv National University.

The after picture shows firefighters working to contain a fire at the economics department building of Karazin Kharkiv National University.

The building was devastated in a shelling attack on March 2.

Svobody Square in Kharkiv (Google)
Svobody Square in Kharkiv (Getty Images)

Rubble covers the ground in Kharkiv’s Svobody Square after the shelling by Russian troops.

The square, which is a hub for cultural events in the city, is one of the biggest in Europe.

Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital

Kyiv apartment block (ES Composite)

These images show damage caused to an apartment building in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

The building, on Lobanovsky Avenue, was hit by a missile on February 26 during Russian air strikes.

Donate here: Please give what you can to the Evening Standard Ukraine appeal (ES)
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