Bucha, Ukraine
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Bucha
Буча | |
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City | |
 Bucha city park | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Bucha  Bucha | |
| Coordinates: 50°32′55″N 30°13′15″E / 50.54861°N 30.22083°E | |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Oblast | Kyiv |
| Raion | Bucha |
| Area | |
• Total | 26.57 km2 (10.26 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 36,971 |
| • Density | 1,400/km2 (3,600/sq mi) |
| Area code | +380 4597 |
| Website | www |
Bucha (Template:Lang-uk, Ukrainian pronunciation: [ˈbut͡ʃɐ]) is a city in Ukraine's Kyiv Oblast. Administratively, it is incorporated as a city of oblast significance. Its population is approximately 36,971 (2021 est.)[1]. Bucha Day is celebrated in the city between 11th and 13th September.
History
The settlement arose with the construction of the Kyiv–Kovel railway in 1898 around a small train stop by Bucha River. Bucha was a train stop of the Kyiv–Kovel railway similar to one in the modern city of Irpin. In close vicinity to the Bucha train stop, there was a small village called Yablunka, where there used to be a brick factory.[citation needed] Yablunka is mentioned in the 19th century Polish Geographic dictionary as the village of Jabłonka 37 versts away from Kyiv.[2]
During World War II, before the liberation of Kyiv from Nazi forces in December 1943, Bucha was the location of the headquarters of the 1st Ukrainian Front commanded by General Vatutin.[3][better source needed]
Bucha was granted city status on February 9, 2006 (previously, Bucha was a town within the Irpin city municipality).[4]
Battle of Bucha
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, heavy fighting took place in Bucha as part of the Kyiv offensive, resulting in severe Russian losses.[5] The city was captured by Russian forces on 12 March. Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk announced the recapture of Bucha by Ukrainian forces on 31 March 2022.[6]
On April 7, the Russian media Meduza published a drone video taken from March 23 to 30, 2022 in Bucha, proving that people were killed during the occupation of the town by the Russians.[7]
Bucha massacre
On 2 April 2022, news reports and video emerged showing streets in Bucha covered with the bodies of men dressed in civilian clothes. Some of those found had their hands tied.[8] Among those killed were women and children. According to first estimations at least 280 bodies were found.[9] There was also evidence that Russian soldiers had systemically tortured, mutilated and executed many Ukrainians in the basement of a summer camp.[10] One of the soldiers said that some of the bodies had cut-off ears or pulled out teeth, and that the bodies had been removed a day before the interview. Corpses of other killed civilians were left in the road. An investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty verified that the basement was used as a torture chamber by Russian forces. [11]
The event caused the Ukrainian government to call on the ICC to investigate whether or not Russia had committed war crimes.[12]
On April 7, the mayor of Bucha, Anatoly Fedoruk, reported that almost 90% of the dead residents had bullet wounds, not shrapnel wounds.[13]
Geography
Bucha is located in Kyiv Oblast, 25 km west of Kyiv. It borders the cities of Irpin and Hostomel and the villages of Vorzel, Mykhailivka-Rubezhivka, and Blystavytsia.[14]
Places and people
There is a stadium in Bucha named Yuvileiny Stadium, where some matches were held in October 2016 for the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification.[15]
There is a glass factory in Bucha. Built in 1946, it was closed in 2016. There is a small train stop called "Sklozavodska".[citation needed]
The town's main landmark is a 19th-century railway station located at the south edge of the city. Through the city runs a major highway 
M 07.[citation needed]
Author Mikhail Bulgakov stayed in Bucha with his family during the summer season in his cottage.[16]
Twin towns
Bucha is twinned with:
Gallery
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Shtamm's Country House Ruins in Bucha -
Bucha railway station -
Bulgakov monument -
City stadium "Yuvileinyi" -
Afghanistan war memorial
References
- ^ Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2021 [Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2021] (PDF) (in Ukrainian and English). Kyiv: State Statistics Service of Ukraine.
- ^ "Jabłonka". Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland (in Polish). 3. Warszawa: Kasa im. Józefa Mianowskiego. 1882. p. 342.
- ^ область, Бучанский сайт Буча Киевская (7 May 2010). "Генерал Ватутін був у Бучі" [General Vatutin was in Bucha]. Бучанський міський сайт (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ "Bucha". Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021.
- ^ Tiefenthäler, Ainara; Willis, Haley; Cardia, Alexander (27 February 2022). "Videos show Russian losses on outskirts of Kyiv". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "Russian invasion of Ukraine, Chronicle". LIGA.net. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ^ Meduza Releases Critical Video Proving Civilians Killed in Bucha While Russian Troops were Stationed in the City
- ^ "War in Ukraine: Street in Bucha found strewn with dead bodies". BBC News. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ "Almost 300 buried in mass grave in Bucha, near Kyiv: Mayor". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ^ "Ukraine says 'torture room' found after Russian troops withdrawal from Bucha". The Independent. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ Inside An 'Execution Cellar' In Ukraine, retrieved 9 April 2022
- ^ "Ukraine: Retreat of Russian forces uncovers evidence of possible war crimes | International | EL PAÍS English Edition". web.archive.org. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ Almost 90% are bullet wounds, not shrapnel.” Mayor Buchi told how the bodies of the dead are being searched in the city. Brief retelling of his interview with Deutsche Welle//Meduza
- ^ DNVP "Cartography". Bucha, city plan 1:10 000, Kyiv, 2010.
- ^ uefa.com. "Under-19 - Matches – UEFA.com".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Drawicz, Andrzej (2001). The Master and the Devil: A Study of Mikhail Bulgakov. pp. 8–9. ISBN 9780773475007.
External links
Media related to Bucha at Wikimedia Commons- bucha.com.ua - Unofficial city portal
- Shvorak, I. History of the "Iron Volyn" (Історія "залізної Волині"). Volyn Times.
- Ukraine: Apparent War Crimes in Russia-Controlled Areas | Summary Executions, Other Grave Abuses by Russian Forces. HRW, 3 April 2022
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