Bucha, Ukraine

Bucha (Ukrainian: Буча, pronounced [ˈbutʃɐ] ⓘ) is a city in Ukraine's Kyiv Oblast. Administratively, it serves as the administrative center of Bucha Raion. It hosts the administration of Bucha urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine.[1] Its population is approximately 37,321 (2022 estimate).[2] Bucha Day is celebrated in the city between 11 and 13 September.[3]

For the nearby village of the same name, see Bucha (village), Ukraine.
Not to be confused with Buchach.
Bucha
Буча
City
Bucha city park
Bucha city park
Bucha Flag
Flag
Bucha coat of arms
Coat of arms
Bucha is located in Kyiv Oblast
Bucha
Bucha
Bucha is located in Ukraine
Bucha
Bucha
Coordinates: 50°32′55″N 30°13′15″E
Country Ukraine
Oblast Kyiv Oblast
RaionBucha Raion
Area
 • Total26.57 km2 (10.26 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total37,321
 • Density1,400/km2 (3,600/sq mi)
Area code+380 4597
Websitewww.bucha-rada.gov.ua

The Battle of Bucha was part of the Kyiv offensive in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The battle lasted from 27 February 2022 to 31 March 2022 and ended with the withdrawal of Russian forces. Mayor Anatolii Fedoruk reported that Bucha had been fully retaken from Russian forces as of 31 March.[4] After Ukrainian forces regained control of Bucha, reports and testimonies of war crimes committed by the Russian military began to circulate. These war crimes have been collectively labeled the Bucha massacre.[5]

Etymology

According to a local historian from Bucha, Anatoliya Zborovsky, Bucha was named after a nearby river, the Bucha River, which referred to the strength of the river's currents in ancient times.

According to an urban legend, during the construction of the railway station, the workers were not paid so they started a huge scandal, or "bucha" (Ukrainian: буча – scandal). The railway station received this name after its completion, so did the village.[6]

History

The settlement arose with the construction of the Kyiv–Kovel railway in 1898 around a small train stop by the Bucha River along 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. Yablunka is mentioned in the 19th century Polish Geographic dictionary as the village of Jabłonka 37 versts away from Kyiv.[7]

During World War II, before the liberation of Kiev from Nazi forces in December 1943, Bucha was the location of the headquarters of the 1st Ukrainian Front commanded by General Vatutin.[8]

Bucha was granted city status on February 9, 2006 (previously, Bucha was an urban-type settlement within the Irpin city municipality).[9] Until 18 July 2020, Bucha was incorporated as a city of oblast significance. In July 2020, as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Kyiv Oblast to seven, the city of Bucha was merged into Bucha Raion.[10][11]

2022 Russian invasion and massacre
Destroyed Russian column on Vokzalna Street of Bucha.
Main articles: Battle of Bucha and Bucha massacre

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, heavy fighting took place in Bucha as part of the Kyiv offensive, resulting in severe Russian losses.[12] 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.[13]

A few days after the recapture, on 2 April 2022, news reports and videos emerged showing streets in Bucha covered with the bodies of men dressed in civilian clothes. Some of those found had their hands tied.[14][15] Among those killed were women and children. According to first estimations at least 280 bodies were found.[16] There was also evidence that Russian soldiers had systemically tortured, mutilated and executed many Ukrainians in the basement of a summer camp.[17] The event caused the Ukrainian government to call on the ICC to investigate whether or not Russia had committed war crimes.[18] On April 7, the mayor of Bucha, Anatoliy Fedoruk, reported that almost 90% of the dead residents had bullet wounds, not shrapnel wounds.[19]

Soon after the town's liberation, rebuilding efforts began. CNN reported in February 2023 that some areas looked almost "back to normal".[20] The road near Bucha has a "graveyard" of destroyed Russian military equipment that has become a tourist attraction and pilgrimage destination for Ukrainians to "see what victory looks like."[20]

On July 2, 2023, a memorial to 501 dead residents of Bucha, one of the first towns to suffer from the terror of the Russian military, was unveiled.[21]

Population

Language

Distribution of the population by native language according to the 2001 census:[22]

Language Percentage
Ukrainian 88.18%
Russian 11.34%
other/undecided 0.48%

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.[23]

Places and people
Church of Andrew the Apostle

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.[24]

There is a glass factory in Bucha. Built in 1946, it was closed in 2016. There is a small train stop called "Sklozavodska".

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.

Author Mikhail Bulgakov stayed in Bucha with his family during the summer season in his cottage.[25]

Twin towns

Bucha is twinned with:[26]

Partner town
  • Shtamm's Country House Ruins in Bucha
    Shtamm's Country House Ruins in Bucha
  • Bucha railway station
    Bucha railway station
  • City stadium "Yuvileinyi"
    City stadium "Yuvileinyi"
  • Afghanistan war memorial
    Afghanistan war memorial

References
  1. "Бучанская городская громада" (in Russian). Портал об'єднаних громад України.
  2. Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2022 [Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2022] (PDF) (in Ukrainian and English). Kyiv: State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2022.
  3. "Bucha Day". bucha.com.ua.
  4. "Kyiv satellite town Bucha recaptured by Ukraine, mayor says". Yahoo! Finance. Reuters. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  5. "Almost 300 people buried in 'mass grave' in Bucha outside Kyiv: Mayor". Al Arabiya English. Agence France-Presse. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  6. область, Бучанский сайт Буча Киевская. "Буча - Історична довідка » Бучанський міський сайт". Бучанський міський сайт (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  7. "Jabłonka". Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland (in Polish). 3. Warszawa: Kasa im. Józefa Mianowskiego. 1882. p. 342.
  8. Генерал Ватутін був у Бучі [General Vatutin was in Bucha]. bucha.com.ua (in Ukrainian). 7 May 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  9. "Bucha". Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021.
  10. "Про утворення та ліквідацію районів. Постанова Верховної Ради України № 807-ІХ". Голос України (in Ukrainian). 18 July 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  11. "Нові райони: карти + склад" (in Ukrainian). Міністерство розвитку громад та територій України.
  12. 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.
  13. "Russian invasion of Ukraine, Chronicle". LIGA.net. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  14. "War in Ukraine: Street in Bucha found strewn with dead bodies". BBC News. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  15. «Медуза» публикует важнейшую видеозапись, доказывающую, что мирных жителей в Буче убили в то время, когда в городе стояли российские войска [Meduza Releases Critical Video Proving Civilians Killed in Bucha While Russian Troops were Stationed in the City]. Meduza. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  16. "Almost 300 buried in mass grave in Bucha, near Kyiv: Mayor". Al Jazeera. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  17. Massie, Graeme (5 April 2022). "Ukraine says 'torture room' found after Russian troops withdrawal from Bucha". The Independent. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  18. "Ukraine: Retreat of Russian forces uncovers evidence of possible war crimes". El País. 4 April 2022. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  19. «Практически 90% — это пулевые поражения, а не осколочные» Мэр Бучи рассказал, как в городе ищут тела хохлов. Краткий пересказ его интервью Deutsche Welle [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 (in Russian). 7 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  20. "A year after Russia's brutal occupation, Bucha is rebuilding. But the survivors remain broken". Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  21. "Не можна забути і пробачити: у Бучі відкрили меморіал жертвам ЗС РФ (фото)". ФОКУС (in Ukrainian). 2 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  22. https://socialdata.org.ua/projects/mova-2001/
  23. DNVP "Cartography". Bucha, city plan 1:10 000, Kyiv, 2010.
  24. "UEFA.com > UEFA European Under-19 Championship > 2017 > Matches > Qualifying round". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  25. Drawicz, Andrzej (2001). The Master and the Devil: A Study of Mikhail Bulgakov. pp. 8–9. ISBN 9780773475007.
  26. "Міста-побратими | Офіційний сайт Бучанської міської ради". bucha-rada.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 25 June 2023.
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