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On the eve of invasion Photos from around Ukraine in the weeks leading up to February 24, 2022
Source: Meduza
Mariupol, February 19
Sergei Grits / AP / Scanpix / LETA
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