It's been 100 days since Russian President Vladimir Putin marched troops into Ukraine. For the millions of Ukrainians whose homes and families have been shattered by war, the days before the invasion may feel like a lifetime away.
Putin's attack against its sovereign neighbor shocked the world, upending the geopolitical status quo virtually overnight and stoking fears of a new nuclear crisis. The war in Ukraine has produced seemingly endless scenes of carnage.
The war also fomented a historic refugee crisis: More than 6.8 million Ukrainians — mostly women, children and the elderly — have fled the country, with an estimated 8 million people displaced internally, according to United Nations' data.
They leave behind schools, jobs, communities and thousands of others who couldn't escape the conflict. As of Thursday, the U.N. confirmed 4,169 civilian deaths and 4,982 civilian injuries in Ukraine since Russia began its invasion on Feb. 24. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has said the death toll in Ukraine is likely higher. There have been 269 attacks on healthcare facilities and 1,837 attacks on education facilities, the human rights office said.
Russia's army dwarfs Ukraine's, but Moscow has faced significant setbacks on the battlefield and ignited even more global outrage after reports surfaced of a Russian massacre in Bucha and a missile strike on a crowded train station in Kramatorsk. The U.S. and E.U. have levied a number of economic sanctions, oil embargoes and has targeted Russian oligarchs to weaken their economy and military position while providing ongoing military aid to Ukraine.
Kyiv, meanwhile, has received billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid from allied nations, especially the United States. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who remained holed up in bunkers in Kyiv as Russia pounded the nation's capitol, has been hailed as a hero by Putin's enemies.
The invasion has reinforced the determination of the NATO alliance, instead of splintering it as Putin intended, and convinced Sweden and Finland to finally begin the formal process of joining NATO. The push comes as Russia's assault on Ukraine has raised fears for other countries in the region. Moscow, long wary of NATO expansion, has opposed the two nations' plans to join the alliance.
The following images look back on the past 100 days to show the destruction, pain and suffering of war, but also the strength, courage and determination of the Ukrainian people as they continue to push back against Putin's war of choice.
Editor's note: Graphic content. The following photos contain images of dead and wounded civilians and soldiers.