Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. The town of Bucha, just outside Kyiv, bore witness to the brutality of Russia’s initial occupation as the bodies of more than 450 men, women and children were found. The occupation highlighted Russia’s severe tactics in the region.
In response, Bucha residents have been actively engaged in recovery efforts and are enhancing their defensive capabilities to safeguard their community amidst the ongoing conflict.
One notable initiative is the formation of an all-female air defense unit, known as the “Witches of Bucha.” Comprised of women who lost family members during the occupation, they are training to shoot down drones with machine guns.
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This first all-female anti-aircraft unit, which targets enemy drones such as the Shahed, uses the century-old Maxim M1910 machine gun, repurposing a classic weapon for modern warfare. Their training includes using a network of microphones to detect drones, followed by the deployment of mobile intervention groups to intercept the aerial threats.
The unit is part of a Ukrainian military volunteer formation and, while not an official military service, receives support from local authorities.
Women’s participation in Ukraine’s military has surged since the conflict escalated. In 2023, the Ministry of Defense reported nearly 43,000 women in service, a 40% increase from the previous year. Currently, about 65,000 women serve, with around 4,000 in combat roles, highlighting their growing contributions to national defense.
Tags: Drones, Kyiv, Military Defense, Russia, Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Ukraine Defense Ministry
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
WHEN RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE IT IGNITED THE LARGEST CONFLICT IN EUROPE SINCE WORLD WAR II. IN THE SMALL TOWN OF BUCHA — JUST OUTSIDE OF KYIV — THE AFTERMATH OF RUSSIA’S INITIAL OCCUPATION REVEALED THE STARK REALITY OF BRUTALITY INFLICTED ON UKRAINIANS–AS THE BODIES OF MORE THAN 450 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN MARKED THE LANDSCAPE.
THE OCCUPATION AND MILITARY ACTIONS BECAME EMBLEMATIC OF RUSSIA’S HARSH TACTICS IN THE REGION.
IN RESPONSE TO THE ONGOING WAR AND THE HORRORS BUCHA ENDURED, RESIDENTS ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN RECOVERY EFFORTS AND STRENGTHENING THEIR DEFENSIVE CAPABILITIES TO PROTECT THEIR TOWN AND UPHOLD THEIR SAFETY IN THE FACE OF ONGOING CONFLICT.
AMONG THEM, IS A REMARKABLE ALL-FEMALE AIR DEFENSE UNIT DUBBED THE ‘WITCHES OF BUCHA’. THESE BRAVE WOMEN, MANY OF WHOM LOST FAMILY MEMBERS DURING THE OCCUPATION, ARE NOW TRAINING TO SHOOT DOWN DRONES WITH MACHINE GUNS TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITY.
THIS FIRST ALL-FEMALE ANTI-AIRCRAFT UNIT, TASKED WITH HUNTING DOWN ENEMY DRONES LIKE THE SHAHED, WIELDS THE CENTURY-OLD MAXIM M1910 MACHINE GUN, EFFECTIVELY REPURPOSING A CLASSIC WEAPON AGAINST MODERN THREATS.
THEIR TRAINING INVOLVES A NETWORK OF MICROPHONES TO DETECT DRONES, QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF MOBILE INTERVENTION GROUPS THAT MOVE TO INTERCEPT AERIAL THREATS.
THIS UNIQUE AIR DEFENSE UNIT IS PART OF A UKRAINIAN MILITARY VOLUNTEER FORMATION AND — WHILE NOT AN OFFICIAL MILITARY SERVICE — IT RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN UKRAINE’S MILITARY HOWEVER SURGED SINCE THE CONFLICT’S ESCALATION. LAST YEAR, THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE REPORTED NEARLY 43,000 WOMEN IN SERVICE, A 40% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. TODAY, ABOUT 65,000 WOMEN SERVE, WITH AROUND 4,000 IN COMBAT ROLES, DEMONSTRATING SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO NATIONAL DEFENSE.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M RYAN ROBERTSON. FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT THE WAR IN UKRAINE, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY–
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