From: BBC by Sarah Rainsford — Eastern Europe Correspondent, near Bucha
It’s when dark falls over Bucha that the witches come out, because that’s when the Russian attack drones start swarming.
The Witches of Bucha, as they call themselves, are a volunteer air defence unit made up almost entirely of women, now helping to protect Ukraine’s skies as more and more men are sent to the frontlines.
There are more drones to shoot down, too, often launched from Russia in waves to overwhelm the main defences ahead of a missile strike.
The night-time shifts allow the women to combine their work defending their country with day jobs as teachers, doctors – there’s even a manicurist.
Many say it’s a way of overcoming the powerlessness they felt when Russian forces occupied Bucha region at the start of the full-scale invasion.
The horror stories of those weeks – including of killing, torture and abduction – only began to emerge after Ukrainian forces freed the area at the end of March 2022.
Voice of Ukraine 