Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought death and destruction to cities across the country — and shattered the peace and security of the European continent.
The Kremlin had initially said it was targeting military facilities, but in the face of a stronger-than-expected Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces have also been pummeling civilian areas. These bombings have destroyed old buildings and new ones, houses and apartments, shops and gyms. Entire city blocks look unrecognizable.
A Pentagon official said Tuesday that the US has so far observed more than 400 Russian missile launches into Ukrainian territory. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said Wednesday that more than 2,000 civilians have been killed so far since the invasion began last week, but the true figure is impossible to verify at this stage.
To get a sense of the destruction so far, BuzzFeed News analyzed photos from photographers on the ground in Ukraine and then compared them with locations we pinpointed using Google Maps. Not all the angles line up perfectly given the limitations of Google Maps, but these photographs give us a sense of the devastation in Ukraine.
A view of the damaged City Council building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022, and the same view in June 2015
A view of the damaged City Council building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022, and the same view in June 2015
A view of the damaged City Council building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022, and the same view in June 2015
Rubble covers the ground in Svobody Square after the Russian shelling, shown on March 1, 2020, in Kharkiv, and the same view in June 2015
Rubble covers the ground in Svobody Square after the Russian shelling, shown on March 1, 2020, in Kharkiv, and the same view in June 2015
Rubble covers the ground in Svobody Square after the Russian shelling, shown on March 1, 2020, in Kharkiv, and the same view in June 2015
Kharkiv’s City Hall on March 1, 2022, and the same view in June 2015
Kharkiv’s City Hall on March 1, 2022, and the same view in June 2015
Kharkiv’s City Hall on March 1, 2022, and the same view in June 2015
Firefighters work to contain a fire at the economics department building at Karazin Kharkiv National University, on March 2, 2022, and the same building seen in June 2015
Firefighters work to contain a fire at the economics department building at Karazin Kharkiv National University, on March 2, 2022, and the same building seen in June 2015
Firefighters work to contain a fire at the economics department building at Karazin Kharkiv National University, on March 2, 2022, and the same building seen in June 2015
The result of Russian shelling in Constitution Square in Kharkiv, on March 2, 2022, and the same place in June 2015
The result of Russian shelling in Constitution Square in Kharkiv, on March 2, 2022, and the same place in June 2015
The result of Russian shelling in Constitution Square in Kharkiv, on March 2, 2022, and the same place in June 2015
A destroyed bridge outside Irpin, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022, and the same bridge in April 2018
A destroyed bridge outside Irpin, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022, and the same bridge in April 2018
A destroyed bridge outside Irpin, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022, and the same bridge in April 2018
Firefighters try to extinguish a fire from a bombed civilian building in a residential area on Feb. 26, 2022, in Kyiv, and the same building seen in May 2015
Firefighters try to extinguish a fire from a bombed civilian building in a residential area on Feb. 26, 2022, in Kyiv, and the same building seen in May 2015
Firefighters try to extinguish a fire from a bombed civilian building in a residential area on Feb. 26, 2022, in Kyiv, and the same building seen in May 2015
A manufacturing building that was damaged in the recent shelling, in Yasinovataya, eastern Ukraine, Sept. 22, 2022, and the same building in an undated street view photo
A manufacturing building that was damaged in the recent shelling, in Yasinovataya, eastern Ukraine, Sept. 22, 2022, and the same building in an undated street view photo
A manufacturing building that was damaged in the recent shelling, in Yasinovataya, eastern Ukraine, Sept. 22, 2022, and the same building in an undated street view photo
Firefighters and emergency services in the vicinity of the bombed hospital building in a residential area on Feb. 26, 2022, in Kyiv, and the same building in May 2015
Firefighters and emergency services in the vicinity of the bombed hospital building in a residential area on Feb. 26, 2022, in Kyiv, and the same building in May 2015
Firefighters and emergency services in the vicinity of the bombed hospital building in a residential area on Feb. 26, 2022, in Kyiv, and the same building in May 2015
Bomb damage to a facade of a 10-story building on Feb. 25, 2022, in the Kharkivsky district of Kyiv, and the same building in September 2020
Bomb damage to a facade of a 10-story building on Feb. 25, 2022, in the Kharkivsky district of Kyiv, and the same building in September 2020
Bomb damage to a facade of a 10-story building on Feb. 25, 2022, in the Kharkivsky district of Kyiv, and the same building in September 2020
A residential building destroyed by recent shelling in Irpin, Ukraine, March 2, 2022, and the same building in May 2015
A residential building destroyed by recent shelling in Irpin, Ukraine, March 2, 2022, and the same building in May 2015
A residential building destroyed by recent shelling in Irpin, Ukraine, March 2, 2022, and the same building in May 2015
A destroyed jewellery shop after a missile launched by Russian invaders hit near the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building in Svobody Square on March 1, and the same building in June 2015
A destroyed jewellery shop after a missile launched by Russian invaders hit near the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building in Svobody Square on March 1, and the same building in June 2015
A destroyed jewellery shop after a missile launched by Russian invaders hit near the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building in Svobody Square on March 1, and the same building in June 2015
Emergency services in front of a bombed residential building on Feb. 26, 2022, in Kyiv, and the same building in May 2015
Emergency services in front of a bombed residential building on Feb. 26, 2022, in Kyiv, and the same building in May 2015
Emergency services in front of a bombed residential building on Feb. 26, 2022, in Kyiv, and the same building in May 2015