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Russia Invades Ukraine

Mariupol, As It Was

Photos from before and during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine highlight the devastating toll suffered by the southeastern Ukrainian port of Mariupol, which was a relatively prosperous industrial city before the war.

Mariupol's main train station photographed in 2013
1 Mariupol's main train station photographed in 2013
Mariupol's railway station in April 2022. The station is situated just one kilometer from the Azovstal factory, where Ukrainian fighters are making their last stand against pro-Russian forces in the city. 
2 Mariupol's railway station in April 2022. The station is situated just one kilometer from the Azovstal factory, where Ukrainian fighters are making their last stand against pro-Russian forces in the city. 
The Donetsk Regional Drama Theater, in central Mariupol, photographed in May 2021. 
3 The Donetsk Regional Drama Theater, in central Mariupol, photographed in May 2021. 
The Mariupol theater in April 2022, after a reported missile or shelling attack destroyed the historic building and killed many inside. 
4 The Mariupol theater in April 2022, after a reported missile or shelling attack destroyed the historic building and killed many inside. 
An undated photo of a shopping center in the west of Mariupol. 
5 An undated photo of a shopping center in the west of Mariupol. 
The shopping center photographed in April 2022 after being destroyed during fighting on Mariupol's outskirts. 
6 The shopping center photographed in April 2022 after being destroyed during fighting on Mariupol's outskirts. 
Mariupol's Sultan Suleiman Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center photographed in 2009. 
7 Mariupol's Sultan Suleiman Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center photographed in 2009. 
A pro-Russian militant walks past the battle-damaged mosque in April 2022. 
8 A pro-Russian militant walks past the battle-damaged mosque in April 2022. 
A Ukrainian patrol boat moors in the port of Mariupol just two weeks before the February 24 Russian invasion. 
9 A Ukrainian patrol boat moors in the port of Mariupol just two weeks before the February 24 Russian invasion. 
A destroyed Ukrainian vessel inside the Mariupol port in April 2022. 
10 A destroyed Ukrainian vessel inside the Mariupol port in April 2022. 
Mariupol locals walking in front of the Donetsk Regional Drama Theater during a French-themed festival in 2019. 
11 Mariupol locals walking in front of the Donetsk Regional Drama Theater during a French-themed festival in 2019. 
An elderly woman walks past the destroyed theater and an armored vehicle of pro-Russian forces in April 2022. 
12 An elderly woman walks past the destroyed theater and an armored vehicle of pro-Russian forces in April 2022. 
A woman emerges from an underpass at a crossroads in the center of Mariupol. Since this photo was taken in 2019, the building in background had a pyramid-shaped roof added to its turret. 
13 A woman emerges from an underpass at a crossroads in the center of Mariupol. Since this photo was taken in 2019, the building in background had a pyramid-shaped roof added to its turret. 
An aerial view of the crossroads and the same turreted building in April 2022. 
14 An aerial view of the crossroads and the same turreted building in April 2022. 
Trains on tracks that run alongside the coast near Mariupol station before the 2022 invasion. The Azovstal factory is visible in the background. 
15 Trains on tracks that run alongside the coast near Mariupol station before the 2022 invasion. The Azovstal factory is visible in the background. 
Burned-out trains on the same coastal track photographed in 2022. The slagheap in the background is on the site of the Azovstal factory. 
16 Burned-out trains on the same coastal track photographed in 2022. The slagheap in the background is on the site of the Azovstal factory. 
One of two historic "spire houses" in the center of Mariupol, photographed in May 2021. 
17 One of two historic "spire houses" in the center of Mariupol, photographed in May 2021. 
Russian troops unloading an armored vehicle near the Stalinist-era spire house in April 2022. 
18 Russian troops unloading an armored vehicle near the Stalinist-era spire house in April 2022. 
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