Bucha, a suburb of Kiev, is recovering from the Russian occupation in March. The city is lively. Road cranes on the streets, boards and other materials next to them, workers on the roofs – the roofs of multi-storey buildings are being changed here.
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
Bullet hits, explosions, shrapnel, fires – all this ruined the roofs, as Serhiys, a worker who lives in Buch said, should be replaced for the winter as much as possible. He himself managed to get out of Buch with his family in the spring in the first half of March, but returned as soon as the city was liberated. There is a lot to do. The scars of attacks by Russian troops are still visible in Bucha.
“There is an apartment in the house, where you can see new bricks – it was completely rebuilt. The roof was completely burned out. Now everything is repaired, everything is new. New wood, new metal. Let’s restore everything! There is a lot of work! Come help!” Serhiy called.
For the workers here, work is lost in thoughts about what Ukraine, Bucha and they themselves have experienced and are experiencing.
“Material problems, burnt houses, equipment and things: we will work with everything, we will restore everything.
But unfortunately, the lives destroyed cannot be brought back. It is the most important thing that cannot be returned. Everything else – no problems. We will fix everything, restore it and everything will be Ukraine!” said the worker Pavlo.
Life must go on, despite the fact that the war does not start. People’s plans for the future show that hope and trust are alive in the city. These workers have been hired to furnish a pet shop that is due to open soon.
“The economy must be restored. After all the horrors that happened here, the city must continue to develop and build the economy. And now there will be a shop here,” worker Valentin said.
Generators are now a common sight: power problems have become the order of the day due to Russian strikes. A café even emphasizes that it is ready to serve coffee under any conditions. In red letters on the scrolling banner: “Delicious coffee in the heroic city of Buča! We work with a generator.”
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
A generator is also installed in a pharmacy near the front door. “Currently, a generator is very much needed. Electricity goes out often, but you can’t work without electricity, without the Internet. It is necessary to work – unfortunately many people are sick,” said Andrij the pharmacist.
A Christmas tree is also included in the bouquet. Next to it, one of the country’s many heated emergency tents, where electricity, internet, a meal and hot tea are always available.
There have been many discussions this year in the cities of Ukraine: whether or not Christmas trees are needed in wartime. Bucha’s decision to install the tree was made after an impromptu poll of residents on the city mayor’s Telegram channel.
Tatiana is happy about it and her little daughter Maria is even more so.
Tatiana with her daughter Maria and Santa Claus
Photo: Gints Amoliņš/LTV
“Bucha had to go through a lot. The children went through a lot. That’s why it is a joy for children. And therefore for adults. Let the Christmas tree stand,” said Bucha resident Tatiana.
Buča’s Santa Claus is busy all day near the tree. He, like many others, was forced to live under Russian occupation for several weeks in the spring, and he said he too was wounded in the shooting: shrapnel hit his leg.
“Santa Claus of Bucha greets all people of good will in the world. From Bucha, Ukraine, I wish everyone a happy new year, a happy feast of St. Nicholas, may all be good for you, may everyone be alive and healthy. May you have a clean, safe and free sky, may your children not have to fear shootings and explosions,” Butch’s Santa wished.
A star at the top of the tree, hanging presents, baubles, reindeer and Santa’s sleigh at your feet. This Christmas tree in Bucha has everything as it should be, except the light.
In the evening, darkness falls in Buch, as in all of Ukraine. If there is also electricity, it is spared wherever possible. Therefore, even if the strings of lights have been fixed, the Christmas tree has remained unlit tonight as well. However, the determination of the people shows that, despite everything, both the festive spirit and the bright hope live here.
