A satellite photo captured on March 22, 2022 by Maxar Technologies' Worldview-3 satellite, shows smoke rising from bomb-shattered apartment blocks in Mariupol, some of the houses around them reduced to rubble as well.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has hit Mariupol particularly hard. Russia views the capture of the southeastern port city as a key priority and has hammered it hard with missiles and artillery, destroying houses, shopping malls and many other buildings in the process.
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This photo, taken by a Planet satellite on March 21, 2022, shows a destroyed theater in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The Russian word for "children" is written in white outside the theater.
Ukrainian officials have said that about 1,300 people were hunkered down in the theater when it was bombed on March 16. Perhaps 200 survived the attack, according to CNN, though it's tough to get an accurate count because Mariupol remains a war zone.
Russian military forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 and have been carrying out deadly attacks across the country ever since. See satellite images of the buildup to Russia's invasion and the resulting destruction in this Space.com gallery.
In the radar image above, taken by U.S. Earth-observation company Capella Space, Russian troops are seen assembling near the collapsed Chernobyl nuclear power plant close to the borders of Ukraine, shortly after the invasion on Feb. 24.
Luninets Air Base in Belarus as seen on Feb. 14, 2022.
"Su-25 ground attack aircraft (total of 32), helicopters, an S-400 air defense unit, ground force equipment and a UAV/drone unit are seen at Luninets airfield (location: 52.276, 26.780), approximately 50 kilometers [31 miles] north of the border with Ukraine," Maxar officials said in a statement.
The Millerovo Air Base in Russia is pictured in this WorldView 3 satellite image, captured on Feb. 15, 2022.
"A new helicopter unit and battle group deployment consisting of tanks, armored personnel carriers and support equipment has deployed to Millerovo airfield, situated approximate 16 kilometers [10 miles] from the Ukraine border," Maxar said in an image description.
Earth observation satellites captured a 40-mile-long (64 kilometers) Russian military convoy approaching Ukraine's capital Kyiv, on Feb. 28, 2022.
Full story: Satellite photos show 40-mile-long Russian military convoy nearing Ukraine's capital Kyiv
A 40-mile long Russian military convoy is seen from space approaching Ukraine's besieged capital Kyiv, on Feb. 28, 2022.
Full story: Satellite photos show 40-mile-long Russian military convoy nearing Ukraine's capital Kyiv
In addition to the convoy, troops and helicopters were spotted in southern Belarus, less than 20 miles (32 km) from the border with Ukraine, on Feb. 28, 2022. Here, attack helicopters are seen at a military airport in Belarus near the border with Ukraine.
Full story: Satellite photos show 40-mile-long Russian military convoy nearing Ukraine's capital Kyiv
Military equipment was spotted in Belarus near the border with Ukraine, on Feb. 28, 2022.
Full story: Satellite photos show 40-mile-long Russian military convoy nearing Ukraine's capital Kyiv
A 40-mile long Russian military convoy is seen from space approaching Ukraine's besieged capital Kyiv, on Feb. 28, 2022.
Full story: Satellite photos show 40-mile-long Russian military convoy nearing Ukraine's capital Kyiv
A 40-mile long Russian military convoy is seen from space approaching Ukraine's besieged capital Kyiv, on Feb. 28, 2022.
Full story: Satellite photos show 40-mile-long Russian military convoy nearing Ukraine's capital Kyiv
