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28 Feb 2022

Photo essay: Russia's invasion of Ukraine

9:20 am on 28 February 2022

In the past week, the world order has been shattered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the first major military action between European nations in decades.

Refugees from Ukraine are seen after crossing Ukrainian-Polish border due to Russian military attack on Ukraine. Medyka, Poland on February 25, 2022.

Refugees from Ukraine are seen after crossing Ukrainian-Polish border due to Russian military attack on Ukraine. Medyka, Poland on February 25, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

Here are some of the most stirring images of both the fighting and scenes from Ukraine, and protests around the world, including New Zealand.

People hold cards with free accommodation and transport offer for Ukrainian citizens who arrive with a bus to a supermarket parking lot after crossing Ukrainian-Polish border in Medyka due to ongoing Russia's attacks on Ukraine.

People hold cards with free accommodation and transport offer for Ukrainian citizens who arrive with a bus to a supermarket parking lot after crossing Ukrainian-Polish border in Medyka due to ongoing Russia's attacks on Ukraine. Photo: AFP / Andalou

People hold up placards during a march to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Melbourne on February 27, 2022.

People hold up placards during a march to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Melbourne on February 27, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

A woman is crying after arriving on a train from Ukraine to the railway station in Przemysl, Poland on February 25, 2022.

A woman is crying after arriving on a train from Ukraine to the railway station in Przemysl, Poland on February 25, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

A woman holds her sleeping child while sitting on the ground at Lviv central train station in Western Ukraine on February 26, 2022.

A woman holds her sleeping child while sitting on the ground at Lviv central train station in Western Ukraine on February 26, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

Children are sleeping on the floor at Lviv central train station in Western Ukraine on February 26, 2022.

Children are sleeping on the floor at Lviv central train station in Western Ukraine on February 26, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by Ukrainian forces in Lugansk region on February 26, 2022.

Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by Ukrainian forces in Lugansk region on February 26, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

A man clears debris at a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where a military shell allegedly hit, on February 25, 2022.

Photo: AFP

Ukrainian service members look for unexploded shells after a fighting with Russian raiding group in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the morning of February 26, 2022.

Photo: AFP

Oksana Zelanik, of Seattle and born in Ukraine, holds a "pray for Ukraine sign" during a "Rally Against the War With Ukraine" event in Seattle, Washington on February 26, 2022.

Oksana Zelanik, of Seattle and born in Ukraine, holds a "pray for Ukraine sign" during a "Rally Against the War With Ukraine" event in Seattle, Washington on February 26, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

KYIV, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 25: Ukrainian servicemen stand on patrol at a security checkpoint on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Photo: 2022 Getty Images

A religious woman holds a cross as she prays on Independence square in Kyiv in the morning of February 24, 2022. Air raid sirens rang out in downtown Kyiv today

Photo: AFP

Firefighters work at a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where a military shell allegedly hit, on February 25, 2022.

Firefighters work at a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where a military shell allegedly hit, on February 25, 2022. Photo: AFP / Genya Savilov

Helga Tarasova hugs her daugther Kira Shapovalova as they wait in a undergound shelter during bombing alert in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on February 26, 2022.

Helga Tarasova hugs her daugther Kira Shapovalova as they wait in a undergound shelter during bombing alert in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on February 26, 2022. Photo: AFP

A woman clears debris at a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where a military shell allegedly hit, on February 25, 2022.

A woman clears debris at a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where a military shell allegedly hit, on February 25, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

Ukrainians in Paris protest against Russia's invasion today.

Ukrainians in Paris protest against Russia's invasion today. Photo: AFP or licensors

No caption

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

People wait for a train to Poland at the railway station of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on February 26, 2022.

Photo: AFP

People use their phone as they take shelter in a metro station in Kyiv as air raid sirens rang out.

Photo: AFP

Residents rushing to take shelter as an air raid siren wails in Kyiv.

Photo: AFP/ Radio RMF Poland/ Mateus Zchlystun

A fragment of a destroyed Russian tank is seen on the roadside on the outskirts of Kharkiv on February 26, 2022, following the Russian invasion.

A fragment of a destroyed Russian tank is seen on the roadside on the outskirts of Kharkiv on February 26, 2022, following the Russian invasion. Photo: AFP or licensors

Volodymyr Zelensky speaking to the camera after Ukrainian forces said they had repulsed a Russian attack on their capital, on Saturday.

Photo: AFP / Facebook account of Volodymyr Zelensky

The body of a rocket stuck in a flat after recent shelling on the northern outskirts of Kharkiv on February 24, 2022.

The body of a rocket stuck in a flat after recent shelling on the northern outskirts of Kharkiv on February 24, 2022. Photo: AFP / Sergey Bobok

Damage to the upper floors of a building in Kyiv after it was reportedly struck by a Russian rocket.

Damage to the upper floors of a building in Kyiv after it was reportedly struck by a Russian rocket. Photo: AFP

Residents attend an open training organised for civilians by war veterans and volunteers who teach the basic weapons handling and first aid on one of Kiyv's city beaches on February 20, 2022,

Photo: AFP

People in Wellington's Civic Square to protest against Russia's offensive in Ukraine.

People in Wellington's Civic Square to protest against Russia's offensive in Ukraine. Photo: RNZ/Jake McKee

A woman walks in front of a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where a military shell allegedly hit, on February 25, 2022.

A woman walks in front of a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where a military shell allegedly hit, on February 25, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

Activists hold placards and flags as they gather in Lafayette Square to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Washington, DC.

Activists hold placards and flags as they gather in Lafayette Square to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Washington, DC. Photo: AFP or licensors

Ukrainians carry babies after arriving with a bus from the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing in Medyka.

Ukrainians carry babies after arriving with a bus from the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing in Medyka. Photo: AFP or licensors

Russia President Vladimir Putin meets with permanent members of the Security Council on the Ukraine situation at Kremlin, Moscow, on Friday Feb 25, 2022.

Russia President Vladimir Putin meets with permanent members of the Security Council on the Ukraine situation at Kremlin, Moscow, on Friday Feb 25, 2022. Photo: AFP or licensors

A Ukrainian soldier in an armoured vehicle waits on the west side of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on February 26, 2022.

Photo: AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the nation in Kyiv early on February 25, 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the nation in Kyiv early on February 25, 2022. Photo: Handout / UKRAINE PRESIDENCY / AFP

Drone image of heavy traffic on a road heading out of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as people flee the capital city in anticipation of Russian military operations.

Drone image of heavy traffic on a road heading out of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as people flee the capital city in anticipation of Russian military operations. Photo: AFP or licensors

Ukrainian servicemen wait till mortar attack is over at their position on the front line with Russia-backed separatists near the town of Schastia, near the eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk, on February 23, 2022.

Photo: Getty Images

Ukrainian Military Forces servicemen block a road in the so-called government quarter in Kyiv on February 24, 2022 as Russia's ground forces invaded Ukraine from several directions today,

Photo: Getty Images

People stand behind the cordoned off area around the remains of a shell in Kyiv on February 24, 2022

Photo: AFP

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region on February 24, 2022

Photo: AFP

People take shelter in a metro station in Kyiv on the morning of February 24, 2022.

Photo: AFP

Ukrainian military vehicles move past Independence square in central Kyiv on February 24, 2022.

Ukrainian military vehicles move past Independence square in central Kyiv on February 24, 2022. Photo: AFP / Daniel Leal

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya during the United Nations security councils emergency meeting to discuss the threat of a full-scale invasion by Russia of Ukraine.

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya during the United Nations security councils emergency meeting to discuss the threat of a full-scale invasion by Russia of Ukraine. Photo: 2022 Getty Images

Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24, 2022.

Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24, 2022. Photo: AFP / Aris Messinis

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