The city of Bucha has become one of the most horrifying symbols of Russian aggression. In the spring of 2022, the world learned about mass executions, torture, and the destruction of civilians. Among the murdered were hundreds of people, entire families; among the living are those still searching for their loved ones. 21 people are considered missing, 33 civilians remain in Russian captivity, and 43 graves remain unidentified.
The War Museum gathered witnesses and researchers of the Russian occupation of Kyiv region to commemorate the victims and heroes who gave their lives in the fight against the aggressor. The event was moderated by Liubov Krupnyk, senior researcher at the War Museum.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence and a joint prayer, led by Father Vasyl Chudiyovych, Chancellor of the Kyiv Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and priest of the Church of St. Luke in Bucha.
Law enforcement officers continue their work to identify those responsible for crimes against civilians. “It is important for us to find the direct perpetrators. We know the names of all Russian soldiers involved in the crimes in Bucha. Every story of life and death is a tragedy, and we strive to personalize each one,” emphasized Dmytro Hapchenko, Chief Administrative Officer of the Bucha City Council.
Nataliia Verbova, the widow of a tortured Territorial Defense fighter, shared her family’s tragedy: her husband, Andrii Verbovyi, was killed by the occupiers on March 4, 2022. His story is one of many documented by writer Olha Vorobiova in her books “Voices of Memory. Bucha – the Hero City” and “Unbroken Irpin”, which include over 130 eyewitness testimonies of the Kyiv region tragedy. Olha presented her books, noting that these stories are “voices of grief and truth about the occupation.”
Kostiantyn Kukushkin, the publication’s coordinator, emphasized that both books preserve collective memory that must be passed down through generations.
A special part of the event was dedicated to the heroism of soldiers who, on February 25, 2022, blew up the Hostomel Bridge over the Irpin River to stop Russian forces from advancing toward the capital. Oleksandr Dubchak, a sapper who directly participated in the operation, shared the details: “Roman Shymanskyi and his comrade Zakhar Kvasnyi, after sending the rest of their brothers-in-arms away from danger, mined and detonated the bridge near Irpin, blocking the advance of the enemy column. But they did so at the cost of their own lives – they could not escape themselves.”
Liudmyla Humeniuk, mother of Roman Shymanskyi, and Zhanna Hozha, mother of Zakhar Kvasnyi, together with Zakhar’s family, took part in the commemorative event. The women called on the public to support a petition to award their sons the title of Heroes of Ukraine, as they gave their lives defending the capital from the invaders.
The wounds of Bucha’s land have not yet healed, but they have become a symbol of the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people.
