After months of military buildup and brinkmanship, Russia has launched an unprecedented military assault on Ukraine.
Explosions rang through a number of Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, in a broad attack that began before dawn on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine in what the Kremlin called a “peacekeeping” mission, just hours after he signed decrees recognizing the independence of the Moscow-backed regions.
European countries and the United States have begun rolling out sanctions in response to Russia’s actions.
Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.
Protesters and police face each other as police move in to clear downtown Ottawa on Saturday, February 19. Protesters and their trucks and cars had been blockading streets in Canada’s capital to demonstrate against a Covid-19 mandate that requires all Canadian truckers crossing the US-Canadian border to be fully vaccinated or quarantine in their homes for two weeks when they return. Cole Burston/The Canadian Press/APFirefighters work to extinguish the flames coming from the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia off the coast of Corfu, Greece, on Saturday, February 19. The ferry was sailing from Greece to Italy early on Friday when it caught fire. The cause of the blaze is being investigated. Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersA scuffle breaks out after the Wisconsin Badgers’ game against the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday, February 20. Michigan head coach Juwan Howard is out for the rest of the regular season after throwing a punch toward Wisconsin’s coaching staff following the Wolverines’ loss. David Stluka/APModels prepare backstage during London Fashion Week on Saturday, February 19. Henry Nicholls/ReutersFireworks burst over the Beijing National Stadium at the end of the Winter Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday, February 20. James Hill/The New York Times/ReduxA wounded woman stands outside a hospital after an attack on the eastern Ukrainian town of Chuhuiv, outside of Kharkiv, on Thursday, February 24.Firefighters burn a field in an attempt to fight wildfires near Ibera National Park in Corrientes, Argentina, on Tuesday, February 22. Burning parts of the land on purpose has historically prevented larger, more destructive fires. Indigenous people have been applying this preventative method, known as controlled or prescribed burns, for thousands of years.Abortion rights supporters celebrate in front of Colombia’s Constitutional Court in Bogota, which ruled to partially decriminalize abortion. The ruling marked a major victory for the nation’s feminist movements and reflects a wider shift in views across the region. Nathalia Angarita/The New York Times/ReduxPeople watch as waves crash against the sea wall in Porthcawl, Wales, on Friday, February 18. Storm Eunice brought high winds across the region. Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images
In conclusion, the developments surrounding the military actions in Ukraine remain critical not only for the region but also for global geopolitics. The international community continues to respond with various measures to address this complex issue.
