Ukraine war: Incredible before-and-after images of Kyiv

The world mourned a year of death and conflict this week as Friday February 24 marked the first anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s order for his aggressive Russian Armed Forces to invade Ukraine. 

In the space of a year, thousands have been killed and millions have fled their homes – many of which have been destroyed by relentless missile strikes. 

Ukraine’s capital Kyiv saw some of the most devastating damage in the country.

MailOnline looks at before-and-after images which show how the city has recovered and repaired its buildings and infrastructure.

Cars drive on the same street, which was one of the most affected during the Russian occupation, on February 1 2023

Left: A man pushes his bike through debris and destroyed Russian military vehicles on Vokzal’na street on April 6 2022 in Bucha, near Kyiv. Right: Cars drive on the same street, which was one of the most affected during the Russian occupation, on February 1 2023

A man stands amid debris in front of a residential apartment complex that was heavily damaged by a Russian attack on March 18 2022 in Kyiv
A man walks past a the same building on February 11 2023

Left: A man stands amid debris in front of a residential apartment complex that was heavily damaged by a Russian attack on March 18 2022 in Kyiv. Right: A man walks past a the same building on February 11 2023

An apartment block in Kyiv which was damaged by a Russian missile on March 17 2022
The same apartment block on February 10 2023

Left: An apartment block in Kyiv which was damaged by a Russian missile on March 17 2022. Right: The same apartment block on February 10 2023

Destroyed houses on Vokzalna street in Bucha town after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army April 2 2022
Vokzalna street with newly built houses on February 11 2023

Left: Destroyed houses on Vokzalna street in Bucha town after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army April 2 2022. Right: Vokzalna street with newly built houses on February 11 2023

Destroyed houses on Vokzalna street in Bucha town after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022
Vokzalna street in Bucha town on February 11 2023

Left: Destroyed houses on Vokzalna street in Bucha town, near Kyiv, after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022. Right: The same street on February 11 2023

Vokzalna street in Bucha filled with destroyed Russian military machinery after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022
Vokzalna street with normal vehicles and people traffic later on February 11 2023

Left: Vokzalna street in Bucha filled with destroyed Russian military machinery after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022. Right: Vokzalna street with normal vehicles and people traffic later on February 11 2023

A woman sits in a tent as people take shelter in the Dorohozhychi subway station, Kyiv, which was used as a bomb shelter on March 2 2022
People walk in the same station on February 9 2023

Left: A woman sits in a tent as people take shelter in the Dorohozhychi subway station, Kyiv, which was used as a bomb shelter on March 2 2022. Right: People walk in the same station on February 9 2023

Retroville shopping mall in Kyiv destroyed by Russian missiles on March 23 2022
The same spot on February 10 2023

Left: Retroville shopping mall in Kyiv destroyed by Russian missiles on March 23 2022. Right: The same spot on February 10 2023

A high-rise apartment block in Kyiv that was hit by shelling on February 26 2022
The same building after renovation works on February 11 2023

Left: A high-rise apartment block in Kyiv that was hit by shelling on February 26 2022. Right: The same building after renovation works on February 11 2023

Sichovyh Striltsiv Street in Kyiv covered with debris after the area was hit by a Russian missile on March 18 2022
Sichovyh Striltsiv Street on February 10 2023

Left: Sichovyh Striltsiv Street in Kyiv covered with debris after the area was hit by a Russian missile on March 18 2022. Right:  Sichovyh Striltsiv Street on February 10 2023

A building damaged in Russian army shelling on April 29 2022 in Kyiv
The same building undergoing repair works on February 11 2023

Left: A building damaged in Russian army shelling on April 29 2022 in Kyiv. Right: The same building undergoing repair works on February 11 2023

Destroyed cars and houses on Yablunska street in Bucha town after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022
Yablunska street on February 11 2023

Left: Destroyed cars and houses on Yablunska street in Bucha town after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022. Right: Yablunska street on February 11 2023

Ukrainian servicemen are seen by the building which got shelled near Lukyanivska metro station, Kyiv, on March 15 2022
People walk near the station on February 9 2023

Left: Ukrainian servicemen are seen by the building which got shelled near Lukyanivska metro station, Kyiv, on March 15 2022. Right: People walk near the station on February 9 2023

The bodies of what Ukrainian forces identified as two Russian soldiers, who were killed in fighting five days earlier on a railway track at a frontline position on March 3 2022 in Irpin
Metal anti-tank barriers known as 'hedgehogs' standon the same railway track on February 7 2023

Left: The bodies of what Ukrainian forces identified as two Russian soldiers, who were killed in fighting five days earlier on a railway track at a frontline position on March 3 2022 in Irpin. Right: Metal anti-tank barriers known as ‘hedgehogs’ standon the same railway track on February 7 2023

A building damaged by Russian army shelling on April 29 2022 in Kyiv
The same building after repair works later on  February 11 2023

Left: A building damaged by Russian army shelling on April 29 2022 in Kyiv. Right: The same building after repair works later on February 11 2023

A house on Vokzalna street in Bucha with destroyed Russian military machinery left nearby after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022
The same house with renovation material in front of it later on February 11 2023

Left: A house on Vokzalna street in Bucha with destroyed Russian military machinery left nearby after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022. Right: The same house with renovation material in front of it later on February 11 2023

Ukrainians cleaning debris of a building in Kyiv which was shelled by the Russian army on March 14 2022
The same building after repair works later on February 12 2023

Left: Ukrainians cleaning debris of a building in Kyiv which was shelled by the Russian army on March 14 2022. Right: The same building after repair works later on February 12 2023

Policemen and forensic personnel catalogue fifty eight bodies of civilians killed in and around Bucha before they are transported to the morgue at a cemetery on April 6 2022
The same cemetery on February 18 2023

Left: Policemen and forensic personnel catalogue fifty eight bodies of civilians killed in and around Bucha before they are transported to the morgue at a cemetery on April 6 2022. Right: The same cemetery on February 18 2023

A destroyed bridge over Irpin River in Stoyanka village after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 6 2022
The same bridge during its reconstruction work on February 11 2023

Left: A destroyed bridge over Irpin River in Stoyanka village after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 6 2022. Right: The same bridge during its reconstruction work on February 11 2023

Residential buildings, where Russian soldiers used to be stationed, in Bucha town after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022
The same street on February 11 2023

Left: Residential buildings, where Russian soldiers used to be stationed, in Bucha town after it was recaptured by the Ukrainian army on April 2 2022. Right: The same street on February 11 2023

Sichovyh Striltsiv Street in Kyiv covered with debris after the area was hit by a Russian missile on March 18 2022
The same street later on February 10 2023

Left: Sichovyh Striltsiv Street in Kyiv covered with debris after the area was hit by a Russian missile on March 18 2022. Right: The same street later on February 10 2023

Ukrainian servicemen guard the checkpoint in the Independence Square in Kyiv on March 4 2022
People walk in the square on February 2,2023

Left: Ukrainian servicemen guard the checkpoint in the Independence Square in Kyiv on March 4 2022. Right: People walk in the square on February 2,2023

People look at the damage on a residential apartment building that was hit by a missile on February 26 2022 in Kyiv
People walk past the same building on February 11 2023

Left: People look at the damage on a residential apartment building that was hit by a missile on February 26 2022 in Kyiv. Right: People walk past the same building on February 11 2023

A makeshift barricade in the Podil neighborhood on February 28 2022 in Kyiv
A man crosses the same road  on February 11 2023

Left: A makeshift barricade in the Podil neighborhood on February 28 2022 in Kyiv. Right: A man crosses the same road on February 11 2023

People walk amid destruction as they evacuate from a contested frontline area between Bucha and Irpin on March 10 2022
The same street in Irpin on February 7 2023

Left: People walk amid destruction as they evacuate from a contested frontline area between Bucha and Irpin on March 10 2022. Right: The same street in Irpin on February 7 2023

Residents of Irpin flee heavy fighting via a destroyed bridge as Russian forces entered the city on March 7 2022. Right: The same bridge on February 7 2023
The same bridge on February 7 2023

Left: Residents of Irpin flee heavy fighting via a destroyed bridge as Russian forces entered the city on March 7 2022. Right: The same bridge on February 7 2023

The 'Friendship of Peoples' monument pictured during its demolition on April 26 2022 in Kyiv
An empty space where the statue once was  on February 11 2023

Left: The ‘Friendship of Peoples’ monument pictured during its demolition on April 26 2022 in Kyiv. Right: An empty space where the statue once was on February 11 2023

A heavily damaged car  on April 4 2022 in Bucha
A person walks next to a car parked on the same road on February 18 2023

Left: A heavily damaged car on April 4 2022 in Bucha. Right: A person walks next to a car parked on the same road on February 18 2023

The site of a rocket explosion where a Kyiv shopping mall used to be on March 23, 2022
Cars parked on the parking lot next to the shopping mall on February 18 2023

Left: The site of a rocket explosion where a Kyiv shopping mall used to be on March 23 2022. Right: Cars parked on the parking lot next to the shopping mall on February 18 2023

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