Photo of a woman walking in Kyiv next to a disused Russian tank
Walking in Kyiv next to a disused Russian tank Sergei Chuzavkov/SOPA Images/ZUMA

Every year on August 24, Ukraine celebrates its 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. The anniversary of the peaceful transition is traditionally marked by military parades and other displays of patriotic pride across the country.

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But this year, celebrations will be subdued, as the event coincides with the grim milestone of six months since Russia launched its large-scale invasion of the country.

With the conflict at an impasse and the specter of renewed Russian attacks looming over Ukraine, here’s how newspapers across the world are covering the six-month milestone:

POLAND – Gazeta Wyborcza

POLAND - Gazeta Wyborcza

“A parade of Russian wrecks” — Gazeta Wyborcza

THE NETHERLANDS – De Volkskrant

THE NETHERLANDS - De Volkskrant


“Hit hard, grown strong” — De Volkskrant

GREECE – E Kathimerini

GREECE - E Kathimerini

“Fights on Independence Day” – E Kathimerini

BELGIUM – Le Soir

“How the Ukraine invasion shook the world”Le Soir

GERMANY – Rheinische Post

GERMANY - Rheinische Post

“6 months of war” — Rheinische Post

LUXEMBOURG – Luxemburger Wort

LUXEMBOURG - Luxemburger Wort

“Death, suffering and destruction” — Luxemburger Wort

SWITZERLAND – Tages-Anzeiger

“6 months of war: Kyiv afraid on its national holiday” — Tages-Anzeiger

AUSTRIA – Kleine Zeitung

“Six months of war: the grueling struggle for freedom” — Kleine Zeitung

FRANCE – Libération

“6 months of conflict in Ukraine: Life in war” — Libération

PORTUGAL – Público


““The war that was supposed to be quick has now been going on for six months” — Público

U.S. – USA Today


USA TODAY

CANADA – The National Post

CANADA - The National Post

The National Post

CANADA – The Toronto Star

CANADA - The Toronto Star


The Toronto Star

COLOMBIA – El Espectador

COLOMBIA - El Espectador


“No wind of peace” — El Espectador

MEXICO –

“Half a year at war” — Diario 24 Horas