In Bucha, a Symbol of Death and Atrocity, Life Returns

A semblance of normal life has returned to Bucha in the six weeks since Russian soldiers withdrew from the city, leaving behind mass graves of slaughtered citizens, as well as broken streets and destroyed buildings.

Residents have been coming back and the city has raced to repair the damage wrought by the invading Russian troops. Now it is hard to imagine the horrors that unfolded here.

Sweeping away as many traces as possible of the destruction caused by the Russian occupation was an important step in healing the wounds suffered by Bucha’s residents, said Taras Shapravsky, a City Council official.

Mr. Shapravsky said 4,000 residents stayed in the city while it was occupied and many residents remain traumatized.

“They were in very bad psychological condition,” he said. “Specialists explained to us that the faster we clear away all possible reminders of the war, the faster we will be able to take people out of this condition.” Read more

@nytimes