Kyiv: Images of everyday life under the bombs
Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, has resisted for the past few weeks under the attack of Russian troops in the areas that surround the city. Despite the numerous bombings and the many families that have had to sleep in makeshift refuges in the subway system, Kyiv still prevails.
Like many former Soviet metropolitan subway systems, the Kyiv Metro was also built to function as a citywide bomb shelter. Nobody ever suspected at the time it would serve in a conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Many of the communities that surround Ukraine have been hit heavily by the Russian invasion. In this image, you can see a bombed-out building in Vyshneve, just a few miles from downtown Kyiv.
In the town of Borodianka, also in the Kyiv region, you can see children playing in a park among the ruins caused by the Russian invasion. It's their new normal.
In the village of Moshum, located north of Kyiv, two people walk a dog among the debris. Sometimes little routines like this can provide a sense of normalcy, which is helpful in unpredictable times. How much do they understand what is going on?
Despite the war, some people do what they can to return to Kyiv and be with their loved ones in such a critical time. That's the case of Lyudmila, seen here in a train platform in Ukraine's capital just after returning from Poland.
In the township of Borodyanka, where this image was taken, Ukrainian officials reported the death of 41 people after a Russian attack on April 17. Despite such senseless violence, the Ukrainian flag still flies on.
Residents of Kyiv and nearby areas try to keep a sense of normalcy around so much destruction. Here you can see people venturing to go out and do some shopping.
A man and a child smile at the camera while riding a bicycle. A small reminder that, amid war and ruin, people still manage to find small respites of joy.
The village of Kukhari, northeast of Kyiv, has also been affected by the Russian shelling. This is what is left of a classroom stricken by the bombing.
Religion plays an important part for many people in times of crisis. Here you can see the Catholic Easter Sunday Mass at the St. Nicholas Cathedral, in Kyiv. Catholics represent less than 10% of the population of the country, which is mainly Christian Orthodox.
The landscape around Ukraine's capital looks like ruins left by the Russian troops. The New York Times explains that Kyiv, with a territory larger than New York City and surrounded by towns and suburbs, is a city that is hard to take control of, which probably explains the Russian retreat.
A house in the village of Moshun, north of Kyiv, has been reduced to rubble. Just one example out of thousands of material and human losses as a result of this conflict.
The Ukrainian people have fought as much as they can against the Russian invasion, but photos like this open the speculation about what exactly will be the legacy of a seemingly meaningless war.
The retreat of Russian troops from Kyiv has left images like this and lots of speculation, but a question still remains.
For how long will the war continue to rage on?