BUCHA, Ukraine (AP) — Following the withdrawal of Russian forces from the outskirts of Kyiv two years ago, a photograph unveiled the fate of Nataliia Verbova’s missing husband.
Examining the image of eight men who had been executed and left on the cold concrete in Bucha, captured by AP photographer Vadim Ghirda, she focused on a man lying face down with his hands bound. She struggled to accept that it was Andrii, her husband, who had joined the territorial defense shortly after the invasion but was apprehended by the Russians.
A month later, during a visit to the morgue, she identified the socks she had given him. It was indeed Andrii.
“I will always remember the pool of blood beneath him. Seeing these images broadcast worldwide caused me immense pain,” she expressed, standing by her husband’s gravesite. “Although two years have elapsed, it feels like yesterday to me. Nothing has changed.”
Russian troops swiftly seized control upon invading Ukraine and remained for approximately a month. Upon the Ukrainian forces reclaiming the town, they encountered what would later be recognized as the epicenter of the war’s atrocities.
Numerous bodies of men, women, and children were discovered scattered across the streets, yards, homes, and mass graves. Some displayed signs of brutalization. Each day, individuals tasked with collecting the deceased found bodies in basements, doorways, and deep within the woods. The once serene suburb was now a scene of shock and silence.
Over 400 bodies were recovered. Ukrainian authorities indicate that the final tally of casualties has yet to be determined.
Today, Bucha is undergoing a transformation. Cranes punctuate the skyline, and the skeletal structures of future residential complexes adorn the main thoroughfare. Cafes and restaurants have reopened, symbolizing hope and rejuvenation in a place that was once filled with despair.
Previously marked by hasty graves adorned with wooden crosses, the resting places now feature marble tombstones bearing the portraits of fallen heroes.
In the neighboring area, which bore the brunt of destruction under Russian occupation, reconstruction efforts are underway to restore what was lost.
On the occasion of the second anniversary of the liberation of these Kyiv suburbs and others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended gratitude to all involved in the rejuvenation process. “This endeavor transcends mere reconstruction; it embodies the preservation of the ideals of a free world and a united Europe,” he remarked.
However, for those who endured the worst of the atrocities, these changes offer only superficial solace. The residents of Bucha continue to grapple with the enduring pain of their losses, struggling to reconcile with the past.
Verbova finds solace in the fact that her husband now rests in a more dignified setting.
He and his comrades had established a roadblock in a bid to impede the advancing Russian troops en route to Kyiv. Their lifeless bodies were later discovered by Ghirda, the AP photographer, outside a building on Yablunska Street.
These men, she believes, deserve to be hailed as national heroes.
Clutching onto her husband’s belongings — his address book and wallet — as cherished possessions, Verbova remains unable to move forward. She laments the government’s failure to accord her husband the official status of military personnel, a designation that would entitle the family to financial assistance.
This predicament is one shared by many families of the fallen men. Oleksandr Turovskyi, whose son Sviatoslav perished at the age of 35, is engaged in a battle to secure similar recognition for his son. At home, amidst photographs of Sviatoslav as a child and as a member of the territorial defense, he proudly displays his son’s war medals.
“Parents should never have to bury their children. It is unjust,” he remarked.
Unlike the revitalized parts of Bucha, the site where the eight men were discovered remains largely untouched. Their portraits, alongside floral tributes, adorn the wall of the building.
Turovskyi frequents the location to feel closer to his departed son.
“Even at 5 o’clock in the evening (after work), I still have this sensation that he will walk in and greet me: ‘Hello, how are you?’” he shared. “Throughout these two years, and even more, I have been awaiting his return. Despite knowing that I have already laid him to rest, I continue to wait.”
He emphasized the importance of not letting the world forget about the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Hence, it is imperative that we discuss it, to halt its progression and prevent its escalation,” he emphasized. “So that others do not endure the same anguish that we do.”