TUESDAY July 12, 2022: 'UKRAINE WAR: DAY 139' by award winning photographer Michael Burza: When Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his invasion of Ukraine on February 24, he envisaged a quick seizure of Kyiv and change of government. But it wasn't to be. The war is still raging, and no one knows when or how it will end. While some observers have urged an early ceasefire, others have emphasized the importance of punishing Russian aggression. Ultimately, though, the outcome will be determined by facts on the ground as the battle has moved from Kyiv's northern suburbs to the eastern plains of the Donbas. Welcome to 'UKRAINE WAR: DAY 139'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #844: TUESDAY July 12, 2022: 'UKRAINE WAR: DAY 139' by award winning photographer Michael Burza: When Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his invasion of Ukraine on February 24, he envisaged a quick seizure of Kyiv and change of government. But it wasn't to be. The war is still raging, and no one knows when or how it will end. While some observers have urged an early ceasefire, others have emphasized the importance of punishing Russian aggression. Ultimately, though, the outcome will be determined by facts on the ground as the battle has moved from Kyiv's northern suburbs to the eastern plains of the Donbas. Welcome to 'UKRAINE WAR: DAY 139'

Seen though a broken car windshield, the village of Mayaky on the outskirts of Sloviansk appears eerily quiet. Six people were killed in Sloviansk on Sunday by heavy shelling from Russians rocket fire, local officials said. The attack was the worst shelling to hit the city during the Russian invasion.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

An unexploded rocket sticks out of the ground in a field near a farm in the village of Mayaky on the outskirts of the city of Slaviansk. Six people were killed in the area on Sunday by heavy shelling from Russians rocket attacks.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

VITALY a member of the Ukraine territorial defense force stands in a destroyed school. During the Russian siege of Chernihiv, Vitaly defended shelters for children and people under the school. Many of his friends lost their lives in the bombing. In April 2022 Governor of Chernihiv Oblast stated that the Russian military had left Chernihiv Oblast.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Standing on what is left of her property, TATIANA TICHONOVNA is a 92-year-old pensioner who lived in her house for 70 years until it was destroyed during the Russian invasion. She wanted to spend a peaceful retirement with her 66-year-old daughter in their house, but 'the Russians destroyed everything.'
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

A monument to the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko sits damaged as a result of Russian shelling of the nearby apartment buildings during an air strike on Central Street. Borodianka, outside of Kyiv, came under heavy Russian air strikes and artillery shelling early in the war.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Survivor VLADIMIR VASILIEVICH, 71, walks through in the remains of the destroyed house which belongs to a relative. Six people were killed in Sloviansk by heavy shelling from Russians rocket fire, local officials said. The attack was the worst shelling to hit the city during the Russian invasion.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

A bridge lies destroyed close to the city of Rusaniv on the Trubizh River. Defenders of Ukraine blew up many bridges during the Russian invasion in an effort to slow their advance.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Children ride their bikes in front of the school which was destroyed by Russian forces. During the invasion, the city was under siege until April when the Governor of Chernihiv Oblast stated that the Russian military has left the area.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

High school graduates from School One in Chernihiv dance to the song ''Dream'' (Mria) infront of the destroyed Hotel Ukraine. Only eleven of the 28 students remained in the city. 'I learned that you can live under rocket fire,' says 17 year old student ANASTASIA FYL. On 5 April 2022 Governor of Chernihiv Oblast stated that the Russian military has left Chernihiv Oblast.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

High school graduates from School Number One in Chernihiv stand in front of the destroyed Hotel Ukraine. Only eleven of the 28 students remained in the city after the Russian invasion. School student ANASTASIA FYL,17, says 'I learned that you can live under rocket fire.'
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

SVETLANA and her son IVAN fled to Austria a week after the fight for Okhtyrka began. They returned to their home and adopted a puppy that they found. On the morning of 24 February, Russian forces entered Sumy Oblast, with fighting beginning at 07:30 at the nearby village of Velyka Pysarivka, unable to occupy Okhtyrka, they retreated the following day, leaving behind tanks and equipment.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

LARISA BELAVSKAYA, 63, survived the during the Russian occupation but her house was burned down. Russian soldiers called on her to leave the city because they would burn them here, but she refused to give up her country. Today she does not know what awaits her and where she will live. The city of Trostianets, in Sumy Oblast, was attacked by Russian forces in late February as part of the Northeastern Ukraine offensive. Occupied for just over a month, it was re-captured by Ukrainian forces in late March.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Military Chaplain ALEXANDER RESHETNIK together with the local 'Good News' church helps evacuate an elderly couple after their house was hit by shelling. According to the group, more than 8,000 refugees escaped from the regions of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk with their help. Now they are evacuating people from the vicinity of Sloviansk after heavy shelling hit the city.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Military Chaplain ALEXANDER RESHETNIK together with the local 'Good News' church helps with evacuations of residents of threatened areas and bring them to hospital. After heavy shelling of Sloviansk officials said 'It is dangerous for people to stay here, so we are trying our best to explain this to them. Evacuation opportunities remain open.'
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Military Chaplain ALEXANDER RESHETNIK together with the local 'Good News' church helps with the evacuation of an elderly couple after their house was hit by shelling. According to the group, more than 8,000 refugees escaped from the regions of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk with their help.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Laying on a newly available hospital bed, GALINA originally had an appointment for medical treatment on February 24, which was the day the war started and she couldn't go to the hospital until now. Today some hospitals in Kharkiv are starting to work again.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Standing in front of Ukrainian army trenches in forest, SERGI DAYNEKO, 62, lost his house during the Russian attack on Kyiv. Now he has to live in his small workshop which survived the shelling.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Amid green grass and trees near Sumy State University a posted sign reads 'Warning Landmines'. According to officials Ukraine will need at least 10 years to remove all landmines from its territory. The battle of Sumy was a military engagement which began during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as part of the Northeastern offensive, and ended on 4 April 2022 when Russia withdrew all of its forces from the area.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Sitting inside his small workshop, SERGII DAYNEKO, 62, lost his house during the Russian attack on Kyiv.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Open to the elements, an apartment building on Central Street sits destroyed by an air strike during the Russian invasion. Borodianka was on the main axis of the Russian advance on Kyiv and came under heavy air strikes and artillery shelling early in the war. Russian troops blew up bridges and blockaded the area, leaving many survivors to starve as supplies couldn't reach the town.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Two elderly residents sit on a bench as the non-profit organization 'Depaul Ukraine' distributes humanitarian aid to people in need at Saltivka on the outskirts of Kharkiv.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Father PAVLO SUSHINSKI from Holy Resurrection Cathedral states that his church became a 'fortress for the people' and a center of humanitarian aid immediately after the invasion. But the Russian troops arrived he became a refugee and urgently had to get his pregnant wife and baby to safety. Today they are back in town together.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

MAXIM, 8, from Charkiv now lives at the Center For Internally Displaced Person (IDP) 'I will help' Shelter in Uzhhorod. According to the UN, 8 million people have fled to other parts of Ukraine since the war began.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

STEPANIDA, 44, prepares potatoes at the Center for internally displaced person (IDP) 'I will help' Shelter in Uzhhorod. Stepanida is refugee with her family for second time, they first escaped from Donetsk in 2017. They had to leave Krematorsk before the current invasion by Russia. Her husband stayed behind with their animals while she left with their 4 children, Anastasia (20), Vladislav (16), Tatiana (7) and Daniel (5). They also took a dog, 9 year old Mula adopted in 2014 in Donetsk. According to the UN, 8 million people have fled to other parts of Ukraine before the war.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Car riddled with bullet holes at a vehicle 'graveyard' in Irpin. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Irpin became the site of intense fighting during the Kyiv offensive. On March 30, the mayor of Irpin said that the Russian military had killed more than 300 civilians and 50 servicemen in the city.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

LUDMILA NIKOLAEVNA KOVALCUK holds the few belongings she could find, in her destroyed apartment. She survived the Russian occupation but her house burned down. The city of Trostianets, in Sumy Oblast, was attacked by Russian forces in late February as part of the Northeastern Ukraine offensive. Occupied for just over a month, it was re-captured by Ukrainian forces in late March.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Seen through the shell of a building, the city of Trostianets in Sumy Oblast, was attacked by Russian forces in late February as part of the Northeastern Ukraine offensive. Occupied for just over a month, it was re-captured by Ukrainian forces in late March.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Upturned cars in the street lay next to damaged apartment buildings in Saltivka, a large residential area located in the northeastern region of Kharkiv. It is estimated some 400 - 800,000 people used to live there, making it one of the largest residential areas in Ukraine. Saltivka was heavily damaged during the Russian invasion.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Two women chat in a hallway as children play behind in the stairwell of a bomb shelter in Kharkiv. Many people still live in bunkers for fear of shelling.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

A paper sign taped to the steel door entrance to a bomb shelter in Kharkiv states 'Women and Children.' Many people still live in bunkers for fear of shelling during the ongoing Russian invasion.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Volunteer INNA KAZAKOVA inside the bomb shelter in which she survived and lived during the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The shelter is still prepared to house the needy for the long-term. Many people still live in bunkers for fear of shelling.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire

Darkness leads up to light, the view from below the stairs of a Bomb shelter in Kharkiv, where many people still live in bunkers for fear of shelling during the Russian invasion.
© Michal Burza/ZUMA Press Wire