Flattened cities, destroyed buildings, damaged monuments, mass graves and a bloodbath – Russia’s so-called “special military operation” has filled Ukraine with sounds of missiles piercing through a deafening silence, dead bodies lying in a pool of blood on the streets, innocent civilians fleeing their country with little hope of a reunion, kids lying on hospital beds with missile wounds and an eerie uncertainty haunting those fighting for their motherland.
What’s left of the country that once was known for its rich tradition, diverse culture, buzzing markets, impressive monuments and jaw-dropping beauty? Ruins, rubble and restlessness. There is an eerie silence in the country with sporadic sounds of missiles, blasts and air ambulances rattling the heart a little more. There is a silence around the damaged buildings destroyed by the Russian missiles, there is a silence that tells stories of brutality unleashed by Putin’s men, there is a silence that follows after a painful goodbye, there is silence but there is no peace.
It’s been 100 days since Vladimir Putin announced a war terming it a “special military operation” aimed at the “demilitarisation and denazification” of Ukraine. Soon after, his men started to invade Ukraine from all sides – land, air and sea. Seeing the size of the country and its army, many believed that the so-called operation would end within a week with a regime change in Kyiv. But Ukraine fought heroically, Ukraine’s people fearlessly faced Russians and continue to fight even after 100 days. Russia’s miles-long military convoy faced a stronger-than-expected resistance from the Ukrainian army and civilians who turned into soldiers for the safety and security of their country.
100 DAYS OF WAR
On February 24, Putin declared war and Russian missiles started attacking military facilities in Ukraine. As civilians turned into soldiers, Russia started attacking civilian buildings targeting innocent people who lost their homes and their loved ones as war raged on.
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The Ukrainian capital Kyiv was the first to be attacked by the Russian forces and they continued to advance, attacking other cities including Chernobyl, Mariuopol, Chernihiv and Sumy with no endgame in sight for the war.
As the Russia-Ukraine crisis completes 100 days, here are ten images that depict the horror of war.
Vehicles on fire at an oil depot after missiles struck the facility in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces in Makiivka, 15 km (94 miles) east of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine.
Nila Zelinska holds a doll belonging to her granddaughter, she was able to find in her destroyed house in Potashnya outskirts Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Zelinska just returned to her home town after escaping war to find out she is homeless.
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A general view of Independence square is seen during the face off against heavily-armed police February 20, 2014 in Kiev.
A man walks past the remains of Russian military vehicles in Bucha, close to the capital Kyiv, Ukraine.
Natali Sevriukova reacts next to her house following a rocket attack the city of Kyiv.
An injured dog is seen at the ADA foundation centre in Przemysl, southeastern Poland.
An explosion is seen in an apartment building after Russian’s army tank fires in Mariupol
A civilian trains to throw Molotov cocktails to defend the city, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, in Zhytomyr.