Countries and their cities before and after the start of the war

Russian occupiers continue to destroy everything that resembles Ukraine. A monument dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Ukrainian Cossacks was destroyed in Mariupol.
 

The first Ukrainian-language school in Mariupol was destroyed by Russian occupation troops.

The Russians have set up a Christmas tree near the drama theatre in Mariupol, which they bombed. One Russian bomb killed about 300 people.
 

Mykhailo Vershinin is a Ukrainian police officer, entrepreneur, volunteer, Major of the National Police of Ukraine, and a participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Knight of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, III class (2022).

A photo selection of the landmarks destroyed by the Russians during the massive shelling of Mariupol.

At the beginning of the open invasion, the Korolenko Central City Library in Mariupol became a refuge for the townspeople from Russian attacks. But the building itself did not withstand the massive shelling.

A military medic from Azovstal, Crimean Tatar Asan Isenadzhiyev, was released from captivity on 31 December 2022. On that day, 140 defenders of Ukraine returned to Ukraine.

He took part in the defence of Mariupol and was captured by the Russians in May. He was released six months later, but exhaustion from Russian captivity eventually led to his death. 

The city of Mariupol is occupied by Russian troops. The situation in the city after a year of occupation is critical, but the Russians continue to "dance on the bones". 

Since the invasion began in February 2022, Russia has been fiercely shelling the city as it was an important strategic target. They managed to capture the city while killing tens of thousands of Ukrainians.

The European Parliament has decided to establish a tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This document was voted in favor by 472 deputies, 19 against, and 33 European politicians abstained.

On 22 September some of Azovstal's captive heroes returned to Ukraine. Among them was Mykhailo Dianov, whose picture has gone around the world. 

A prisoner exchange has taken place between Ukraine and Russia. 215 defenders of Ukraine have returned home.

Since 24 February, the Russian occupiers have been using weapons prohibited by the Geneva Convention against defenders of Ukraine and civilians.  

How the flowering city of Mariupol was turned into ruins by Russian troops

The Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol have been resisting Russian forces for three months. Their last hiding place a few weeks ago was the Azovstal plant. More than 6,500 people were killed and missing.

The militants promised "the preservation of life and compliance with international laws on the treatment of prisoners of war". Later, the dead man's mother received a photo of her son's corpse.

The Russian military destroyed a monument to one of the founders of Mariupol, Metropolitan Ignatiy, and destroyed the Cathedral of the Archistratigus of God Michael

The Russian occupiers deliberately destroyed the Drama Theater, where hundreds of people were hiding