Russia invaded Ukraine a week ago. What comes next?
Moscow (CNN)Russia's assault on Ukraine is just a week old, but its consequences have already been catastrophic.
In the seven days since Russian troops invaded their western neighbor, hundreds of people have been reported dead and one million have fled for their lives. Energy prices are skyrocketing and food prices could be next.
No one can say for sure what will happen in the coming days and weeks, but years of relative peace and stability in Europe have already been ruptured, and should the fighting stretch on for months, the crisis could have even greater ramifications.
What happens to Kyiv?
Moscow (CNN)Russia's assault on Ukraine is just a week old, but its consequences have already been catastrophic
In the seven days since Russian troops invaded their western neighbor, hundreds of people have been reported dead and one million have fled for their lives Energy prices are skyrocketing and food prices could be next
No one can say for sure what will happen in the coming days and weeks, but years of relative peace and stability in Europe have already been ruptured, and should the fighting stretch on for months, the crisis could have even greater ramifications
What happens to Kyiv?
Ver The Batman Online Cuevana
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been very clear about his basic goals in invading: He wants to disarm Ukraine, sever its ties to the NATO military alliance and end the Ukrainian people's aspirations of joining the West
Here's what we know about the 40-mile-long Russian convoy outside Ukraine's capital
Here's what we know about the 40-mile-long Russian convoy outside Ukraine's capital
He has also said he wants to rid the country of what he calls the "gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis that has settled in Kyiv and taken hostage the entire Ukrainian people," a baseless and highly-charged reference to Ukraine's democratically-elected government and its Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky
Russian forces are encircling the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in an apparent push to topple the government, and a 40-mile-long military convoy is edging toward the city, which has been targeted by multiple rocket and missile attacks in recent days
Zelensky has vowed to keep fighting, but he is under no illusions that Putin's forces "want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state."
Should those forces take the capital, Ukraine does have other politicians who might be eager to fill the ranks of a pro-Russian puppet regime
One of Putin's top allies in Ukraine is Viktor Medvedchuk, a prominent politician and oligarch He faces allegations of treason in Ukraine and has been under house arrest, but his exact whereabouts are unclear
A man mourns after an airstrike reportedly hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv on February 24
Photos: Russia invades Ukraine
A man mourns after an airstrike reportedly hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv on February 24
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Rescuers work at a crash site on February 24 after a Ukrainian military plane fell and caught fire outside of Kyiv, according to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service The cause of the crash wasn't indicated
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Rescuers work at a crash site on February 24 after a Ukrainian military plane fell and caught fire outside of Kyiv, according to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service The cause of the crash wasn't indicated
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Sviatoslav Fursin, left, and Yaryna Arieva kneel during <a href="https://wwwcnncom/2022/02/24/europe/ukraine-wedding-invasion-thursday-intl/indexhtml" target="_blank">their wedding ceremony</a> at the St Michael's Cathedral in Kyiv on February 24 They had planned on getting married in May, but they rushed to tie the knot due to the attacks by Russian forces "We maybe can die, and we just wanted to be together before all of that," Arieva said
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Sviatoslav Fursin, left, and Yaryna Arieva kneel during their wedding ceremony at the St Michael's Cathedral in Kyiv on February 24 They had planned on getting married in May, but they rushed to tie the knot due to the attacks by Russian forces "We maybe can die, and we just wanted to be together before all of that," Arieva said
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Ukrainian service members sit atop armored vehicles driving in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region on February 24
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Ukrainian service members sit atop armored vehicles driving in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region on February 24
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People in Kyiv try to board a bus to travel west toward Poland on February 24
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People in Kyiv try to board a bus to travel west toward Poland on February 24
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US President Joe Biden arrives in the East Room of the White House to <a href="https://wwwcnncom/2022/02/24/politics/joe-biden-ukraine-russia-sanctions/indexhtml" target="_blank">address the Russian invasion</a> on February 24 "Putin is the aggressor Putin chose this war And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden said, laying out a set of measures that will "impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time."
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US President Joe Biden arrives in the East Room of the White House to address the Russian invasion on February 24 "Putin is the aggressor Putin chose this war And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden said, laying out a set of measures that will "impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time."
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Smoke rises from a military airport in Chuhuiv on February 24 <a href="https://wwwcnncom/2022/02/24/europe/ukraine-russia-attack-timeline-intl/indexhtml" target="_blank">Airports were also hit</a> in Boryspil, Kharkiv, Ozerne, Kulbakino, Kramatorsk and Chornobaivka
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Smoke rises from a military airport in Chuhuiv on February 24 Airports were also hit in Boryspil, Kharkiv, Ozerne, Kulbakino, Kramatorsk and Chornobaivka
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People seek shelter inside a subway station in Kharkiv on February 24
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People seek shelter inside a subway station in Kharkiv on February 24
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Russian military vehicles are seen at the Chernobyl power plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, on February 24 Russian forces have <a href="https://wwwcnncom/2022/02/24/europe/ukraine-chernobyl-russia-intl/indexhtml" target="_blank">seized control of the the plant,</a> the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, according to the agency that manages the area
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Russian military vehicles are seen at the Chernobyl power plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, on February 24 Russian forces have seized control of the the plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, according to the agency that manages the area
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Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire after a reported strike in Chuhuiv on February 24
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Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire after a reported strike in Chuhuiv on February 24
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People wait after boarding a bus to leave Kyiv on February 24
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People wait after boarding a bus to leave Kyiv on February 24
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Ukrainian President Zelensky holds an emergency meeting in Kyiv on February 24 <a href="https://wwwcnncom/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-23-22/h_1831ec828890a281e4fcfc8db92e3c4b" target="_blank">In a video address,</a> Zelensky announced that he was introducing martial law He urged people to remain calm
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Ukrainian President Zelensky holds an emergency meeting in Kyiv on February 24 In a video address, Zelensky announced that he was introducing martial law He urged people to remain calm
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Police officers inspect the remains of a missile that landed in Kyiv on February 24
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Police officers inspect the remains of a missile that landed in Kyiv on February 24
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A staff member of a Kyiv hotel talks on the phone on February 24
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A staff member of a Kyiv hotel talks on the phone on February 24
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Smoke rises from an air defense base after an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol on February 24 A CNN team in Mariupol reported hearing <a href="https://wwwcnncom/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-24-22-intl/h_4acca36c8b3aa9cabe9335cc2d6b4b2c" target="_blank">a barrage of artillery.</a>
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Smoke rises from an air defense base after an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol on February 24 A CNN team in Mariupol reported hearing a barrage of artillery
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People wait in line to buy train tickets at the central station in Kyiv on February 24
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People wait in line to buy train tickets at the central station in Kyiv on February 24
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A long line of cars is seen<a href="https://wwwcnncom/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-23-22/h_1463a3b82bff0d8466c15d19c0f42c5c" target="_blank"> exiting Kyiv</a> on February 24 Heavy traffic appeared to be heading west, away from where explosions were heard early in the morning
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A long line of cars is seen exiting Kyiv on February 24 Heavy traffic appeared to be heading west, away from where explosions were heard early in the morning
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A photo provided by the Ukrainian President's office appears to show an explosion in Kyiv early on February 24
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A photo provided by the Ukrainian President's office appears to show an explosion in Kyiv early on February 24
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People in Moscow watch a televised address by Russian President Vladimir Putin as he <a href="https://wwwcnncom/2022/02/23/europe/russia-ukraine-putin-military-operation-donbas-intl-hnk/indexhtml" target="_blank">announces a military operation</a> in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine on February 24 "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never experienced in your history," he said
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People in Moscow watch a televised address by Russian President Vladimir Putin as he announces a military operation in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine on February 24 "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never experienced in your history," he said
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