The commemoration of the fallen soldiers, including those who defended Bucha in the first days of Russia’s attacks, took place at the local cemetery. Residents, relatives, friends and colleagues of the fallen soldiers gathered there. They laid flowers at the graves and lit candles.
Mykola Kalashnyk, who leads Kyiv’s Regional Military Administration, attended the event and spoke to those present, highlighting Russia’s horrific acts. Within just 33 days of occupation, 561 individuals lost their lives.
Russian forces rapidly took control of Bucha soon after beginning their comprehensive assault on Ukraine in February 2022, maintaining their presence there for roughly four weeks.
When Ukrainian forces reclaimed the town, they discovered what was later referred to as the heart of the conflict's horrors.
Civilians' mass graves were found, and numerous war crimes were recorded following its recapture in March 2022.
This year’s memorial event was clouded by political events, as numerous Ukrainians voiced their discontent over the progress of ceasefire talks with Russia.
The Ukrainian government and military experts suggest that Russian troops are gearing up for another major assault in the upcoming weeks to increase the strain on Kyiv and bolster the Kremlin’s stance in the truce discussions.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has charged Russia with extending the negotiations for a truce as an attempt to gain additional time and capture more of Ukraine’s land.
A single soldier attending the memorial in Bucha firmly opposed making any concessions during talks with Russia.
"The losses were immense; I lost numerous comrades and fighters. What exactly did we fight for? Was it to cede these lands? Our constitution clearly states that this land belongs to us," stated soldier Ihor Lvutin.
Aren’t we meant to violate our constitution? To hand everything over to the adversary? That’s why I refuse. Absolutely not.