By day, they work as teachers, doctors or veterinarians. At night, they take up arms to face Russian attacks. Their goal is to thwart the invasion.
The “witches of Bucha”, as they call themselves, took on a fundamental role in the fight against the invasion of the police. Russia on the territory of Ukraine .
This is a military unit composed of women volunteers, who devote themselves to defense work antidrone .
The name by which they are known refers the town of Bucha, a strategic point in the kyiv region .
After the start of the war on February 24, 2022, Troops commanded by the Kremlin occupied the area .
Nevertheless, At the end of March of the same year, Ukrainian forces managed to free him. .
Bucha is located about 30 kilometers northwest of the capital Kyiv.
A report from the non-governmental organization dedicated to the defense of human rights, Human rights monitoring reported in April 2022 that after the withdrawal of Russian soldiers, their investigators They found “extensive evidence of summary executions, other unlawful killings, enforced disappearances and torture.” .
As noted at the time, there was “violations that would constitute war crimes and possible crimes against humanity” .
Human Rights Watch researchers They worked in Bucha from April 4 to 10 of the same year, a few days after the withdrawal. Russian troops.
The researcher in the organization’s crisis and conflict division, Richard Weir, He said at the time that “almost every corner of Bucha has become a crime scene and it seems that death is everywhere.”
“Evidence indicates that Russian forces that occupied Bucha showed contempt and lack of consideration for the lives of civilians and for the most fundamental principles laws of war,” he added.
The information collected by the New York Times On August 10, 2022, they specified that, according to the count of town hall agents, 458 bodies were found in the neighborhood. of Boucha.
Among them, 86 women and nine children were registered .
More than two years after the start of the armed invasion, many volunteers who were part of the “witches of Bucha” declared to the BBC who decided to join us because of the feeling of helplessness they felt when Russian troops occupied the region .
What are the tasks of the “Bucha witches”, the Ukrainian military defense unit
The operations they perform In this unit, they focus on defense work, including shooting down drones. sent by Kremlin-led troops.
These attacks tend to occur at night. and they are usually launched in waves, in an attempt to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses before firing missiles.
During the day, many volunteers work as teachers, doctors, veterinarians or manicurists. to name just a few of his works.
In these cases, Night shifts allow them to perform both their military and military functions. .
A member of the Bucha witches, Valentyna, works as a veterinarian and joined the unit This year.
The fighter name he identifies with is Valkyrie .
“I’m 51 years old, I weigh 100 kilos, I don’t know how to run. I thought they would send me to hell, but they recruited me! he told the aforementioned media outlets.
She said part of what led her to join the “Bucha witches” was his relationship with friends who fought on the front and the deaths that occurred throughout the war.
“I can do this job. The equipment (weapons) is heavy, but women can do it “, he stressed.
What weapons did the “Bucha witches” use to shoot down Russian drones?
The military team she works in is made up of four members one of whom is a man, Serhiy.
As The machine guns they man are two Maxims manufactured in 1939 the latter volunteer must carry water in a bottle so as not to overheat, as described in the report of the BBC.
It is detailed that The ammunition they use in their equipment comes in boxes with Soviet Union stars. .
The use of this decades-old weapon This is because the best weapons are deployed on the combat fronts where Ukrainian forces seek to prevent the advance of Russian troops.
Since the beginning of the invasion, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has constantly insisted that his Western allies provide them with more weapons and permission to use them. in order to counter enemy attacks.
Despite the era in which these machine guns were manufactured, These have been maintained and the “witches of Bucha” are using them to shoot down drones .
Valentyna – or Valkyrie, as she identifies herself in combat – told the aforementioned media outlets that she has the responsibility “to be attentive to sounds” .
“It’s nervous work, but we must stay focused (pay attention) to the slightest noise” and thus act in defense of the territory.
One of her classmates named Inna, who identifies in combat as Cherry and recently joined the unit, told the BBC: “It’s scary, yes. But I also gave birth and did it three times. .
She is also around 50 years old and, By day, she works as a mathematics teacher .
Inna reported that Sometimes he has to return quickly from his military duties in the forest to be able to give lessons. to his students.
“I keep my clothes in the car. My heels too. I put on lipstick and teach the class. Then I get back in the car, change clothes at the corner and leave. “.
Referring to the growing demand for soldiers and the effect this had on more and more citizens being called up to recruit, he said: “The boys are gone, but here we are. What can Ukrainian women do? We can do anything “.
According to the aforementioned media, There is no public data on the total number of volunteer units or the number of women involved. in these operations.
Another member of the “Witches of Bucha”, Yulia is responsible for tracking the drones from a tablet, to prevent them from exploding in places where they could harm troops and/or civilians. .
What it’s like to train “Bucha witches,” Ukrainian women who shoot down drones
In addition to preparing for the detection and downing of Russian drones, the training of “Bucha witches” includes broader operations .
These will from using guns for direct combat to how to attack buildings details the report from the aforementioned media.
Related to Valentina a complicated situation that arose during the occupation imposed by Russian troops at the start of the war.
He said that in this episode, A soldier forced his family to roll down their car window, then put a gun to his son’s head. .
“I remember the horror. “I remember my own son’s screams” Valentina lamented.
Due to the consequences of the invasion, as other Ukrainian women have also reported, decided to join the “Bucha witches” to fight Russian attacks and contribute to the Ukrainian victory in the conflict.
In his words: “Life has changed. All our plans destroyed. But I’m here to help hasten the end of this war. » .
“As the girls here say, It won’t end without us “, he said.
Below you will find an audiovisual report from BBC in which you can see how the “witches of Bucha” work .
The video that shows how the “Bucha witches” operate to defend Ukraine
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
