I used to cross this modern, green and cozy town in peaceful times, as I was on my way to summerhouse. Every time I would notice something new in the image of this town - residential quarters, shopping malls, a wide network of construction markets. Bucha lived, developed and went younger… Currently, it lies in ruins.
Tonight, heavy fights took place in Bucha-Vorzel direction again. But the town of Bucha remains Ukrainian. For several days in a row, Armed Forces of the Russian Federation landed airstrikes, artillery attacks and used Grad missile systems, shelling the town as if firemen would water the flames from water cannons.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine set the flag here on March 3. But the civilians keep hiding in shelters. Putin’s troops rush for the capital across Irpin, Vorzel, Gostomel and Bucha. And now, because the Ukrainian army would not let them succeed with blitzkrieg towards Kyiv, as they originally planned in the Kremlin, they are furious and have their revenge on peaceful locals, attacking civilian cars, blowing up the dwellings…
My friend, origin of Bucha called me from America. For a day, she hasn’t had any connection with her family that still lived there. Her sister and niece with a little child spent several days in the basement of local school No.4, hiding from Russian bombardment.
My friend cried and asked to help evacuate them. “They can’t stay there! They can’t reach Irpin, the bridges are destroyed. Give them a chance to leave! Women and children have the right to leave!...”
As I contacted the territorial defence in Bucha, I tried to explain my American friend that it’s Russian “liberators” who would not let her relatives out of the hot spot. It was them who created this spot. And the norms of humanitarian law mean little to them. I told her on Messenger that combat actions are taking place near Varshavska and Zhytomyrska highways. In Gostomel, Ruscists already open adjusted fire on civilians, capture hostages. Our people are well aware about the situation in Bucha, Vorzel and Irpin. Since that day (March 3), they started to evacuate people from Irpen.
Eventually, the family of my American friend made it to Kyiv’s railway station and went to the safe place. And today, the enemy shell hit the railroad section, as the evacuation train was moving towards Irpin. It was supposed to pick up the people, and it was empty.
This morning, the other people I know called me. An elderly lady and her son are staying in Bucha, in their private house our in the open. A roof was destroyed by the expolosion, and there was no basement to hide. The house is also cut off the grid. It’s hard to get in touch with the local territorial defence - their cell phone batteries must be dead. In the afternoon, the telephone connection with my acquaintances in Bucha disappeared, too.
