Kyiv, Irpin, and Bucha
Irpin, a crucial gateway to Kyiv, suffered severe bombardment by Russian forces, attempting to breach the capital’s defenses and resulting in widespread destruction of residential areas and infrastructure.
On February 25, as a strategic maneuver to impede the Russian advance toward Kyiv, Ukrainian forces demolished the sole bridge connecting Irpin to Kyiv.
Bucha endured several weeks under Russian occupation. The full extent of the atrocities committed there wasn’t revealed until after the Russian withdrawal, unveiling streets littered with the bodies of civilians, many of whom were found with their hands bound.
![A cemetery worker rests while working on the graves of civilians killed in Bucha near Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 14, 2022 [Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/AP22104711248529.jpg?w=770)
Mariupol
Mariupol, a vital southern port and industrial hub, faced complete encirclement by early March, trapping civilians and defenders alike. The Mariupol Drama Theatre, designated as a civilian shelter, was destroyed in a March 16 air strike. The final Defense was made at the Azovstal steel plant, which fell to Russian forces in May 2022, after a prolonged siege.
The siege of Mariupol was among the deadliest and most destructive battles of the war, with Ukrainian authorities and international bodies accusing Russia of war crimes, and estimating tens of thousands of civilian deaths.
Zaporizhia
In March 2022, after intense conflict, Russian forces gained control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, raising international apprehensions about a potential nuclear disaster. Despite no direct hits to the reactors, the attacks led to fires and damage to auxiliary structures.
Russia retains control of the plant, turning it into a military bastion, and continues to pose safety threats despite the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) concerns about ongoing shelling and power outages in the region.
![A serviceman wearing a Russian flag on his uniform guards the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhia region, Ukraine, on August 4, 2022 [Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-10-01T070634Z_272460832_RC26SW9XR7L9_RTRMADP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-ZAPORIZHZIA-DETENTION.jpg?w=770)
By April, Russia had captured 27 percent of Ukraine; however, the fierce Ukrainian resistance had slowed the Russian advance, transforming the conflict into a protracted war.
