Witches of Butscha: A Comedy of Courage Against Drones
So, it appears we’ve stumbled upon the most badass book club this side of Hogwarts, ladies and gentlemen! Meet the “Witches of Butscha,” who, unlike the “Witches” of British reality TV, aren’t out looking for a snazzy new wardrobe, but rather a fancy military arsenal as they shoot down Russian drones! Yes, you heard that right!
Women on the Frontlines
Who says women can’t multitask? They’re taking on Russian drones, running households, and working in hospitals all at the same time. I can barely walk and chew gum without messing up. But these women? They not only filled the gaps left by the brutal invasion, they’re also making sure every drone that dares sniff around Butscha is met with a hearty “Not on my watch!”
- Age is Just a Number – From 19 to 64, they’ve proven that if you can’t take the men, take matters into your own hands!
- Job Title: Drone Hunter – Forget “administrative assistant.” Their new titles are combatants, marking the start of the biggest career change since the great office coffee crisis!
- Anger… More Powerful Than Any Spell – Driven by the landscape of loss, these women wield their rifles fueled by fury. Talk about family values!
After all, Bucha isn’t just a mere dot on the map; it’s become synonymous with the unthinkable atrocities of war. In spring 2022, the horrors faced by the boys in the area left a gaping hole, and this group of courageous women emerged like phoenixes ready to roar!
“The Anger is Boiling Inside Me”
Take “Tayana,” a 41-year-old mother whose life resembles a tragic novel dipped in action-flick charisma. “If I just shoot a drone out of the sky, I will have achieved my goal in this world,” she notes. Ladies and gentlemen, when the world is against you, it’s time to become your own hero!
But it’s not all fun and games, as they train harder than your average gym-goer trying to fit into last season’s skinny jeans. They can assemble rifles faster than I can find my keys… which, given my history, is saying something!
Balancing Act: Multiple Roles
Did I mention they aren’t getting paid for this? It’s like every mother’s nightmare come to life — attempting to maintain civilization while battling a playoff-team worth of Russian drones. They’re the epitome of “my heroes don’t wear capes.” They wear tactical gear and combat boots instead!
- Doctor by Day, Drone Slayer by Night – “Mala” juggles daily rounds at the hospital with losing her weekend sleep chasing drones. Supermarket shopping? Now that’s a distant second!
- Women Want to Make a Difference – They want everyone to be safe; you know, the usual “wish for world peace” sentiment, but with a sidearm, just in case!
Why We Need More Witches
In the words of “Weles,” the chief of staff, being a fighter transcends gender boundaries. It’s about responsibility — proving that bravery doesn’t pick and choose its warriors. With a wink, I say we need more witches like these everywhere, or at least in the next Olympic Games… think about it: competitive drone hunting!
Act Now, Laugh Later
While we laugh and find inspiration, the reality is heartbreaking. These women rate their success based on downed drones, which is about as far from a normal life as one can get. So if you thought your job was demanding, well, pfft! Welcome to the frontline!
Remember, out there, these women are not just fighting for their loved ones; they are holding on to hope and defiance. Now, who’s ready to send them a pizza because I bet they could use some good old fashioned delivery after all that hard work?
If you or someone you know needs help, check out the resources provided above.
Published23. October 2024, 2:53 p.m
Women in action: The “Witches of Butscha” are targeting Russian drones
After the massacre in Butscha, women took up arms. In a female volunteer unit, they shoot down Russian drones and try to defend their city.
von
-
After the massacre in Bucha, Ukrainian women form a volunteer fighting unit.
-
The “Witches of Butscha” shoot down Russian drones to defend their city.
-
In addition to their military deployment, they continue to work in their jobs and look after their children.
They are teachers, they are doctors, they are mothers – between 19 and 64 years old and come from different social classes. Together they are “the witches of Butscha” and shoot Russian drones out of the sky. Still driven by anger and despair over the massacre carried out by Russian troops when they captured the city of Bucha. They fill the gaps left by the mass murder of civilians by Russian soldiers.
In the spring of 2022, according to the Ukrainian reporting medium “Frontliner”, almost all men between the ages of 18 and 60 who were unable to leave the city were killed. In total there were more than 600 people, entire families, who were murdered, tortured and raped. Butscha became a symbol of Russian war crimes. The men who remained after the liberation went to the front – and the women no longer wanted to stand idly by.
“The anger is boiling inside me”
“Tayana” (41) during tactical training with an AK-47. “If I just shoot a drone out of the sky, I will have achieved my goal in this world,” says the 41-year-old mother and former tour guide.
Getty Images
“My husband and his brother were killed in March 2022 and our apartment was destroyed,” says the volunteer fighter and former tour guide “Tayana” (call name) in a video from ntv. Her mother died due to the constant stress caused by the fighting. The 41-year-old herself is the mother of a 14-year-old daughter. «The anger at the invaders boils inside me. If I just shoot one drone out of the sky, I will have achieved my goal in this world.”
In addition to their work, the women look after their children and often work full time
“Tayana” is part of the local volunteer unit “Witches of Butscha,” which consists almost entirely of women. The name alludes to the volunteers’ nighttime activities. When it gets dark, they try to knock Iranian Shahed and Russian Geran drones out of the sky from Russia. These are each loaded with explosives and move in swarms of several dozen machines at 150 kilometers per hour.
The women train hard for weeks for their mission.
Getty Images
The women train together in the forest and complete their weeks of combat training. They learn to disassemble and assemble rifles, climb trees in full military gear and practice shooting down Shahed drones with machine guns in the back of pickup trucks. A difficult task, as can be seen from the rate of the “witches”: since the summer, they say they have shot down three drones.
And yet: Women do not want to sit idly by and watch the war. Many of them had previously had nothing to do with the military. According to “Frontliner,” they go into combat missions every three days. When they are not volunteering, they pursue their civilian lives, continue to work in their jobs and care for their children. The women are not paid for their service; only equipment and ammunition are provided.
“Come to the unit to protect my relatives”
The 26-year-old “Mala” is a machine gunner. Outside of her military service, she works as a doctor. “I’ve wanted to serve for a long time because many of my family are in the army, but I can’t join the armed forces because I work as a doctor in a hospital,” she tells “Frontliner”.
Getty Images
The two friends “Mala” (Ukrainian the little one) (26) and “Forash” (Ukrainian title of the film “Fast & Furious”) (27), as they are called by their nicknames, also joined the voluntary group of fighters together, as “ Frontliner» reports. Mala is a machine gunner. She calls her weapon, a machine gun from the Second World War, “Maximka”.
27-year-old “Forsash” (pictured below) reported for duty with her friend “Mala” (above). She also otherwise works in a hospital. Their goal is to protect their relatives through their efforts.
Getty Images
Forash is a loader and driver. She came to the unit to protect her relatives. “Nobody wants their home to be hit by a rocket. “I have my brothers, sisters, friends, godparents and godchildren here in Butscha,” she tells the media portal. When they’re not shooting down Russian drones, the two work in a hospital during the day.
The chief of staff, whose nickname is “Weles,” comments on the work of women as follows: “Being a fighter means being more than a man or a woman. Then you are a person who takes responsibility for yourself, for the country and for the people you defend.”
Are you or someone you know concerned about the war in Ukraine?
You can find help for yourself and others here:
Questions and answers about the war in Ukraine (State Secretariat for Migration)
Outpatient clinic for torture and war victims SRKTel. 058 400 47 77
Fear of war?tips from Pro Juventute
Offer of advice (German, Ukrainian, Russian), by Pro Juventute
Free advice for children and youth in Ukrainian
Offered handWorry Hotline, Tel. 143
For Youthadvice for children and young people, Tel. 147
Registration and information for host families:
Swiss refugee aidTel. 058 105 05 55
Have you been following on Whatsapp for 20 minutes?
A news overview in the morning and at the end of the day, surprising stories and breaking news: Subscribe to the 20 Minutes WhatsApp channel and you will receive regular updates with our best stories directly to your cell phone.
