The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, together with Ukraїner, publishes a selection of important photos by Ukrainian photographers taken in different parts of Ukraine. February was rich in various events, including Ukrainian photographers taking pictures of the shelling of Ukrainian cities, the course of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the participation of Ukrainian veterans in the Invictus Games in Canada, and much more.

In the first days of the full-scale invasion, Gostomel became one of the key areas of attack for Russian troops and was supposed to become a bridgehead for the Russians to enter the capital. The fighting for the city lasted from February 24, 2022, when the occupiers tried to seize the strategically important Antonov airport by landing helicopter assault. The Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled the attack, but the shelling and bombing did not stop.

On February 26, 2022, on the third day of the full-scale invasion, Kyiv was no longer asleep. The Russian army was striking at the capital, trying to break the resistance. The streets were almost empty - people had either left the city or were hiding in shelters. Tension, panic, and fear were in the air.

Over the past week, Russian forces have systematically attacked residential areas of Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles, causing significant material damage and human tragedies. The most severe consequences of the shelling were in Odesa, Kherson, and Kryvyi Rih, which led to large-scale power outages and disruption of utility infrastructure.

The beginning of 2014 was marked by tumultuous events that have been shaping the lives of Ukrainians for 11 years. The Russian Federation, taking advantage of the change of power in Ukraine as a result of the Revolution of Dignity, intensified separatist unrest in the south and east of the country. Under the guise of “people's revolutions” Russia managed to seize the Crimean peninsula and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In the rest of Ukraine, the separatist movement was stopped.

Over the past week, Russian troops have carried out a series of missile and air strikes on Ukrainian cities. On February 7, Russian aircraft attacked Myropillya in Sumy region, killing three people. On February 12, a missile strike on Kyiv killed one person and damaged infrastructure in several districts of the capital. On February 13, Russians shell 13 villages in Sumy region, injuring five people. On February 14, it was reported that a drone attack on the Chornobyl nuclear power plant damaged the new safe confinement over the fourth power unit. Although radiation levels remained normal, the attack posed a threat to environmental safety. On the same day, Russia launched 133 Shahed attack drones, of which 73 were shot down by Ukrainian air defense forces.