KYIV, Ukraine — In a snow-covered forest outside Kyiv, the “Witches of Bucha” are training to defend their city from a constant bombardment of Russian missiles and drones.
The volunteer civil defense force, which is 90% women, is primarily tasked with defending the skies, shooting down the Iran-made Shahed drones that arrive nearly every night.
Tetyana said that her husband and brother have both been killed in the war, and that her nephew in the army has been reported missing.
“My whole word was destroyed,” said Tetyana, 41, who, in keeping with Ukrainian military protocol, declined to give her last name.
Volunteering with the group gives her an outlet to channel her rage, she said.
Persons:
Bucha, Tetyana, ”
Locations:
KYIV, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Iran, Bucha