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National

Satellite images show Ukraine cities before and after Russian war

Satellite images reveal the destruction of a southern Ukraine city that has been attacked during Russia's invasion.

Maxar Technologies have released before and after satellite images of the city of Volnovakha, in south-east Ukraine, near the Russian border.

The US company has released satellite images of a train station and two residential areas.

Maxar originally mistakenly identified the city as Sumy in Ukraine north east, but later corrected the location as Volnovakha.

The company said the imagery "reveals significant damage to residential and civilian infrastructure".

Russia has said its strikes on Ukraine are not targeting civilians.

The following three before and after images from Maxar were taken on July 18, 2021 and March 14, 2022.

This satellite comparison shows the damage to buildings and a train station in Central Volnovakha.

The next comparison shows residential apartment buildings and a church before and after the Russian invasion. 

The final comparison shows a residential area in Volnovakha which has been devastated by shelling. 

The company also released images from the besieged eastern city of Kharkiv and the city of Chernihiv, which is roughly 150 kilometres from the centre of Kyiv.

In Kharkiv, Maxar said, fires and "artillery impact craters" can be seen in residential areas.

Homes in Kharkiv can be seen buring as Russia's war on Ukraine continues, March 16, 2022. (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies)
Maxar images show artillery impact craters next to a residential area in Kharkiv on March 16, 2022. (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies)

In Chernihiv, satellite shots show fires burning around homes and a local stadium that has been destroyed.

Shelling has destroyed homes in the eastern city of Chernihiv. (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies)
Images show a stadium in Kharkiv damaged by shelling. (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies)

Meanwhile, large deployments of armour and military transport can be seen building up in southern Belarus.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko — an ally of Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin — has not officially said his country would participate in the war.

However, Maxar said, its images show a field hospital compound built in the Belarusian city of Naroulia.

Maxar also said an increased presence of Russian military in southern Belarus —  near the Ukraine border — was noticeable.

"Russian ground forces, engineering equipment and attack and troop transport helicopters deployments are noted in the region," it said.

Military field hospital and medical compound established in Naroulia, Belarus. (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies)
A military convoy was photographed south of Naroulia, Belarus, on March 14. (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies)
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