The faces of the first month of war
Created: 03/23/2022, 16:24
Russian President Vladimir Putin © Mikhail Klimentyev/Pool Sputnik Kremlin/AP/dpa
Ukraine has withstood the Russian invasion for a month.
President Zelenskyj is internationally regarded as a symbol of resistance against Kremlin chief Putin.
But war has many faces.
Kyiv/Moscow - Russia's war against Ukraine already has many faces after the first month:
The attacker, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, who shows himself to be an indomitable resistance fighter, is also supported by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
A Russian television journalist no longer takes part in Kremlin propaganda.
A major general presents the bare numbers from Moscow's point of view every day.
And then, of course, there are the many victims.
Vladimir Putin (69)
In more than 20 years in power, the Russian President has led the giant empire through numerous bloody conflicts.
After wars in the Russian North Caucasus Republic of Chechnya, against Georgia and in Syria, the attack on the neighboring country is the most momentous so far.
To this end, Putin has had the country's nuclear weapons put on special combat readiness.
The former head of the secret service also threatens to do so if the USA or NATO interfere in the "special military operation".
Putin refuses to talk about war there.
But he has long used the word himself. In view of the unprecedented international sanctions, he speaks of an economic war with which the West wants to destroy the resource superpower.
Nevertheless, Putin continues to be confident of victory.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (44)
The Ukrainian President is in the global spotlight as a hero of the resistance.
Almost every day, the ex-actor, who played a president in a comedy series for many years, addresses his people and also parliaments and governments abroad via video link.
He calls for arms deliveries and tougher sanctions against Russia.
Domestically, he was able to seize the opportunity.
Both the pro-Russian and nationalist opposition are now silent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy © Uncredited/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP/dpa
The television stations of his predecessor and adversary Petro Poroshenko must bring the state standard program.
Criticism of Zelenskyj is currently taboo.
If the head of state looked shattered before the outbreak of war and a second term in office was in question, he is currently the undisputed leader of his nation.
Olaf Scholz (63)
The German Chancellor completely turned German foreign and security policy upside down after the start of the war.
Deliveries of arms to an ongoing war, which are now being used against a nuclear power - breaking a taboo.
Every year more than two percent of the gross domestic product for the Bundeswehr - unthinkable just a few months ago.
U-turn in energy policy to end dependency on gas, oil and coal from Russia.
The Chancellor's speech in the Bundestag on February 27 is already considered historic.
There are limits to what Germany can do to help Ukraine.
This was shown by the silence of Scholz and his government after Zelenskyj video switched to the Bundestag.
Germany says no to a complete energy embargo against Russia and to the prospect of Ukraine joining the EU.
Marina Ovsyannikova (44)
The TV journalist appeared on prime-time prime-time news on Russian state television, showing a poster that read, “Don't believe the propaganda.
You are being lied to here.” She suddenly became famous with her courageous anti-war protest.
After years of working for the Kremlin's propaganda station, she is now being celebrated internationally as a heroine.
The Putin camp sees her as a traitor.
more on the subject
"This is Putin's war": Russian TV journalist calls for protest - and now fears for her life
Ukraine war: This is how Selenskyj and Putin present themselves
Anti-war protest on TV: Woman celebrated as a heroine
The daughter of a Russian and a Ukrainian has already had to pay a fine for a video with a protest call.
Because of the TV appearance, she faces criminal proceedings.
Although she fears for her safety, the mother of a 17-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter wants to stay in Russia.
"My life changed forever," she says.
She didn't regret it.
Boris Romanchenko (died aged 96)
The concentration camp survivor survived four Nazi concentration camps.
Now, like hundreds of other civilians, he fell victim to the war.
On March 18, a bullet hit his home in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine.
His apartment, which he hadn't left for months because of Corona, burned down.
He himself died.
That was the end of an eventful life.
At the age of 16, German troops had deported him to Dortmund, where he had to work underground.
In 1943 he was sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp, then to Peenemünde, Dora and Bergen-Belsen.
After the war he became involved in commemoration work.
His death in the war triggered deep mourning for many, including in Germany.
Igor Konashenkov (55)
The major general and spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry appears in front of the camera every day.
He is also Moscow's face of the war in Western news.
In a calm voice, the man in uniform explains the Russian view of the "special military operation" in Ukraine, which Moscow must not call war.
He does not have to answer critical questions.
In the monologue he talks about the advance or destroyed military facilities - and about the dead.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) © John Macdougall/AFP-Pool/dpa
In recent years, the military man, who was born in the ex-Soviet Republic of Moldova, has been one of the most frequently cited representatives of his ministry - even ahead of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
He has been head of the press department since 2011.
Konashenkov has already been awarded 14 military medals, including the Russian Order of Bravery.
Alyona Nadtochiy (27)
The nurse from Jahotyn near the capital Kyiv is one of the more than 230,000 refugees from Ukraine who are already in Germany.
She fled in early March, along with eight other women and girls from her family.
The men had to stay at home to defend the country against the Russian troops.
Her daughter Lisa is the youngest at seven years old.
They only had 20 minutes to pack.
In a completely overcrowded train we went to the border to Poland and on by bus to Bad Düben in Saxony.
Pure coincidence: A bus driver from northern Saxony collected donations and brought them to the border.
On the way back he invited a larger group of refugees.
None of the nine refugees was in Germany.
You don't know anyone here either.
How long they will stay is uncertain: "When the war stops, we will go back," says Aljona.
dpa