On the eve of invasion Photos from around Ukraine in the weeks leading up to February 24, 2022
Nearly one year ago, on February 24, 2022, millions of lives changed forever. Despite countless promises not to do so, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Meduza has chosen photos taken in Ukraine on the eve of the Russian invasion — in January and February of last year. You’ll see a not-yet-destroyed Mariupol, Kyiv without air-raid sirens or missile strikes, and people who don’t yet have any idea what full-scale war is like. It’s been nearly a year since Russia decided to deprive millions of Ukrainians of their peaceful lives.
Volodymyr Zelensky at the opening of a new bridge in Zaporizhzhia, January 22
Press Service of the president of Ukraine
A Femen protest against the military registration of women. Kyiv, January 27
Sergei Supinsky / AFP / Scanpix / LETA
Sculptural composition “Contingencies” in Kyiv, February 1
Chris McGrath / Getty Images
Odesa, February 18
Emilio Morenatti / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Mariana Zhakhlo of the 130th Territorial Defense Battalion is a marketing analyst and mother of three children. Kyiv, January 23
Oksana Parafeniuk / The Washington Post / Getty Images
Residents of Syurte, Zakarpattia region, undergo combat training, February 19
Serhii Hudak / Ukrinform / SIPA / Scanpix / LETA
Ukrainian servicewoman Bogdana gets a new tattoo — a Valkyrie. Kherson region, February 8
Michael Robinson Chavez / The Washington Post / Getty Images
Javelin anti-aircraft systems at Boryspil airport, February 10
Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
Kyiv, February 15
Chris McGrath / Getty Images
An outdoor ice-skating rink in Lviv, February 17
Christopher Occhicone / Bloomberg / Getty Images
A couple’s photo shoot. Odesa, January 27
Libkos
A studio shoot for blood donors. Odesa, February 23
Libkos
A suburb of Kyiv, February 16
Carlos Barria / Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
Kyiv, February 8
Chris McGrath / Getty Images
Pupils of the family organization for orphans in the town of Zolote gather things in case of evacuation. Sievierodonetsk district, Luhansk region, February 21
Salwan Georges / The Washington Post / Getty Images
An entrepreneurs’ protest for increased state support. Kyiv, January 25
Serhii Nuzhnenko / Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
Kyiv, February 23
Emilio Morenatti / AP / Scanpix / LETA
The Kyiv metro, February 15
Ethan Swope / Bloomberg / Getty Images
Kyiv, February 10
Pavel Dorogoy
The Moskvich night club. Kharkiv, January 30
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Kharkiv, January 30
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
A military helicopter over Sevastopol, February 19
Alexey Pavlishak / Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
Mariupol, February 19
Dmitri Kotjuh / Järva Teataja / Scanpix Baltics / LETA
Mariupol, February 19
Dmitri Kotjuh / Järva Teataja / Scanpix Baltics / LETA
Mariupol, February 17
Pierre Crom / Getty Images
A road in the Volnovakha district of Donetsk region, February 20
Mstyslav Chernov / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Edited by Evgeny Feldman
English version by Ned Garvey