Bucha revived – VnExpress
Nearly two months after the Russian forces withdrew, the market in the once devastated town of Bucha on the outskirts of Kiev has reopened.
Most of the stalls in Bucha market are still closed, but the opening of the market marks the gradual recovery of life in the town. Bucha was once the focus of world opinion, after the Ukrainian government accused Russian forces of “massacre of civilians” during their control of the area, before withdrawing at the end of March.
Nataliya Morgun, 69, behind an egg stall, recalls the time when the Russian army entered Bucha in March, when it was very cold. She also remembers how quiet the town was when the fighting subsided, as most of the residents had already evacuated.
“Thank God, life is slowly getting back to normal,” she said, tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks. This is the first time she has cried since Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine in late February.
A stall selling seeds of cucumbers, watermelons and flowers at Bucha market on May 22. Image: AFP
Ukrainian officials said that after Russian forces withdrew from Bucha on March 30, they found at least 20 bodies of men in plain clothes with their hands tied scattered on the street, as well as several mass graves. body. Bucha Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said more than 400 bodies had been discovered.
Russia denies the accusations of “massacre of civilians” by Ukraine and the West, saying that these are false information orchestrated by Kiev to “smear” Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the accusations related to Bucha were “all made up like what happened in Syria” and created a pretext for a series of tougher sanctions against Moscow.
Standing behind the butcher stall in the market, Valeriya Bilyk, 21, said she “didn’t want to think about the past” and now focus with her husband on work at the market.
“With each passing day, the situation is getting better. Stores are gradually reopening. Families with small children and pets are starting to return to shop,” Bilyk said. “If we don’t look at the rubble, it seems that our normal life has really revived.”
The wreckage and burned-out vehicles have been cleared away, but the bullet-riddled houses and some destroyed shops are still eye-catching testimony to the fierce conflict.
Nataliya Morgun, 69, waves behind an egg stall at Bucha market on May 22. Image: AFP
Customers coming to the market are mainly elderly people. “There are more cats than people,” commented one passerby.
Even so, 63-year-old Nadia Grebenyk remains busy with her hand in the stall selling her cucumber, watermelon and flower seeds. “Spring is here. Everyone wants to plant a garden to celebrate victory,” she said.
To earn extra income, Sergiy, 42, decided to open a market stall with his wife, Maryna, an English teacher in a local school. He used to be an engineer working in a nearby airport, but has been unemployed since the war broke out. They open a stall selling birthday decorations, items no one has ever sold in the market, in the hope of earning more income for the family.
“In any difficult time, children need a laugh,” explains Maryna, placing paper hats and colorful banners on the small stall.
A woman stands in front of a butcher shop in Bucha market on May 22. Image: AFP
Olena Khokhlova, 34, with a small bag of vegetables in her hand, is also starting to rebuild her life. Her second child is about to be born. Khokhlova, who lives on Yablunska Street, the street where dozens of bodies were found, said he saw horrific scenes before evacuating on March 10.
“I was shocked at first, then I realized it was reality and I needed to change to live, otherwise I would go crazy,” she said.
Khokhlova is due to give birth in August. She will name her daughter Stefania after the song by rap band Kalush Orchestra that won this year’s European TV Song Contest.
Hong Hanh (According to AFP)
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