As darkness falls over Bucha, a formidable squad known as the Witches of Bucha takes to the fields, determined to defend Ukraine’s skies against relentless Russian drone attacks. This all-women volunteer air defense unit, combining fierce resolve with outdated yet battle-tested Soviet-era machine guns, is protecting their homeland as male forces are called to the front lines. For these women—teachers, doctors, even manicurists by day—the fight against drones at night is their stand against feeling powerless, a sense that many have carried since Bucha’s brutal occupation.
The unit, which includes a veterinarian named Valentyna (callsign Valkyrie) and math teacher Inna (callsign Cherry), was born from the need to defend Bucha with sheer will and limited resources. Armed with machine guns dating back to the 1930s, the Witches operate under extreme conditions, listening intently for the slightest drone buzz, ready to shoot down Russia’s latest weapons of war. Their motivation runs deep: many bear scars from Bucha’s occupation, when Russian soldiers went door-to-door, committing atrocities. For one woman, learning to handle a rifle erased a feeling of helplessness she never wanted to experience again.
Led by Col. Andriy Verlaty, who initially doubted women could succeed in military roles, the unit has proven that Ukrainian women are as steadfast as their male counterparts. They undergo grueling training in fields and abandoned buildings, learning combat tactics to speed up Ukraine’s victory. And despite the somber memories they carry, the Witches’ laughter and unity reveal a resilient spirit.
“We won’t sit like victims again and be so very afraid,” one member says, reflecting the unwavering courage driving them to defend their land—one drone at a time.
