Female fire groups defend skies over Bucha, Kyiv Oblast — photo
Read NV on Google
The first all-female mobile fire brigades in Ukraine were created in the Bucha community, Kyiv Oblast – exactly where the Russian forces committed especially violent atrocities in the war beginning in 2022.
These air defense mobile groups, already called "Bucha witches", are formed from women volunteers who joined the Bucha Voluntary Formation of the Territorial Community (DFTG).
Bucha witches is a reference to famous Ukrainian book "The Witch of Konotop" delving into Ukrainian folk beliefs about witches and demons.
They practice tactical maneuvers, shooting and coordination of actions in combat conditions, in particular when clearing dugouts, explains the 114th Territorial Defense Forces separate brigade.
This mobile fire groups have been formed purely from volunteers, keeping an eye on air targets in the sky.
"Bucha witches" show that Ukrainian women can - and it is within their power - to protect the sky, while men protect the ground," the brigade said in a statement.
These are women of different ages, educations, professions, and life experiences. They go on combat duty once every three days, which allows them to combine service with civilian life, Frontliner publication journalists added.
All female mobile fire groups perform combat missions in the Bucha, and sometimes even the Hostmel communities in Kyiv Oblast, Andriy Verlaty, Bucha DFTG Chief of Staff, told in an interview for the local portal Nezlamni.City, published by the 114th separate brigade.
"They
work on enemy drones, missiles, they are even involved in countering sabotage
groups,” he said.
“Not a
single officer who worked with mixed units complained about our girls."
Bucha is now known to the world as a synonym for the most violent war crimes committed by Russians against the civilian population.
More than 460 people died in Bucha (more than 90% of them were shot) in the 33 days of Russian occupation, a total of about 1,200 in the Bucha district. Most of the men who did not leave were executed.
"After the liberation of Bucha, many men from the city went to the front, which is why it became necessary to form a female unit," Frontliner added.
NV publishes a photo report by the Reuters agency about the training and work of the "Bucha witches".
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
