Bucha and Irpin - Stories that are hard to hear and hard to see - but so many things to pray for...

 Just outside of Kiev there are several beautiful, kind of upscale bedroom communities that few outside of the area have ever heard of before!  But now at least two of them are recognized all over the World- Bucha ad Irpin. They are the sites of horrific atrocities by the Russian army.   Not long ago one of my dearest friends, who lives in Russia, reminded me of reporting only what I have seen myself and experienced, not hearsay- which I think is very wise and what I intend to do throughout this mission trip.   Yesterday we were allowed by special remission to tour both of the cities I mentioned above. One of the dear doctors on our medical team in Kiev, had performed an important surgery on a man that turned out to be very successful!  He is the father of a man who heads the security forces in this ravished area and this brother spent most of the day taking us through several restricted areas where they have been clearing out land mines. Hundreds of people were  executed and tortured there, which is well documented!  Some explosive devices were placed under bodies, knowing that people would be coming to remove them...   The government and the local people both do an amazing job of cleaning up damaged sites the best way they can- they are trying to tell each other don't give up, life will be better again, someday!   

#1, #2   Most of the bombed out military vehicles and civilian cars have been removed and piled up in temporary storage areas.  It is difficult for me to see both of these remnants of War because you know people have been killed there. These are Russian tanks that have mostly been destroyed by U.S. javelin missles or a preferred weapon from the UK called NLAW- next generation, lightweight, anti-tank weapon. They both go down through the top of the tank and their explosion inside sets off all the stored artillery shells inside the tank. That is why almost all of the tanks we saw had the upper half, turret, blown off! 

#3   Many pictures like this of housing in the Bucha-Irpin area, just wanton destruction...

#4   More apartments shelled...

#5   Bombed shopping mall...

#6   This is part of a resort that became the headquarters for the Russian command in the Bucha/ Irpin area. 

#7   I took this picture because all the apartments around this clinic were damaged, but this dear woman was still out there trying to prune this tree! Many people we saw were planting flowers trying to do 'something' to restore beauty in an ugly world...

#8   Bucha / Irpin

#9   The War began on Feb. 24th, which everybody remembers but at that time no one could believe it was possible!  The main objective for the Russian army was Kiev and they moved quicker than anyone could imagine from the Belarusian border.  Most all of the Ukrainian forces moved back to protect Kiev which left little help for the villagers along the way but no one supposed that it would cause too much difficulty because there is no strategic value in those areas, except grocery stores and farm equipment.  After Kiev was secured, the Ukrainian army came back to the surrounding area and discovered that the unthinkable had happened.  Corpses everywhere and small houses, farm buildings, and apartment complexes where families lived were bombed! 

#10   This is the main house of that very nice resort in Bucha, that later became the Russian Command Headquarters.

The Ukrainian Security Commander in charge of this disaster area is a good friend of one of the doctors on our medical team in Kiev.  He was kind enough to spend most of the day with us so that we could see first hand the devastation that followed the Russian invasion of the greater Kiev region.  There were the most horrific atrocities and clear War crimes that were committed repeatedly, it was difficult to even imagine.  But as we stood in the middle of this compound he said I must admit my admiration and respect for the Russian commanders and special forces!  This shocked me after all that we had just walked through together.   He said they behaved with respect and professionalism.  Their enemy was the Ukrainian army not the citizens.  In this beautiful resort ctr. he told us that not one thing was damaged- even the liquor cabinet was unopened and completely in tact.   The wanton destruction, thefts, and tortures were primarily carried out by soldiers from Central Asia. They were a part of the regular Russian army but not disciplined and very cruel!  He said it wouldn't be  honest to lump all of the Russian soldiers into one group, that there was a huge difference between these two types of combatants! The atrocities still happened, but there are stories of failure on the Ukrainian side as well which is, I believe,  always a part of the grotesqueness of War and human failure! 

This commander's wife is a psychologist who is working with trauma victims from the War.  Another aspect of the fighting is all the rape victims- both young boys and girls... She said this involves troops all across the board.  Those involved feel like they have unlimited power and control, and are not accountable to anyone! She also said, often times there is a kind of mob mentality that ends up involving many soldiers and victims at the same time!   Another friend that I have been known for the past 30 years heads up a large ministry to single moms and unwed mothers.  She and her staff have learned alot about counseling and providing care for these dear women who are often rejected by the church and even their own families.  But they said they are really struggling to know how to care for all the rape victims who are now carrying Russian babies!  Our friend pastor Gennadii reminded us that the church considers abortion a sin and especially because of the War, many people will reject not only the baby but its mother!  For a large number of these dear women, they are convinced the only option is suicide.    

#11   Another Russian tank with turret blown off...

#12   More Russian tank debris- before they were destroyed they rumbled through these villages and destroyed one residential area after another...

#13  Beautiful house- just destroyed...

#14   Another apt. next to the clinic...

#15   The name of the woman in this picture is Luda, she is the resident who wanted people to know what had happened here. Like others, she wanted to find beauty somewhere and took several pictures of this Magnolia tree...

#16   Apartments around the clinic...

#17    This medical clinic was built by a protestant group to provide care for people in Bucha.  When the War started they turned it into a humanitarian aid station where people could come for food and clothing. One of the Rissian tanks in the area saw all the people run for cover in this building and blew it up, shooting everyone who was not killed by the first explosion. A lady who lives a block away walked us over to this place and explained what had happened! One of the most horrific sights this poor woman eye-witnessed was a young lady who had made it out of the clinic but was then killed, she was wearing a cross and still had a Bible in her hand...   This particular tank had rumbled through this whole residential area blowing up the apartments next to the clinic, but then shortly after this was blown up itself. How tragic and completely unnecessary! Pictures of this tank's debris and the surrounding apartments will follow... 

#18   Bombed housing complexes...

#19   In the same area, we saw this lady, Natasha, come out and stand not far from us. I thought she might be offended that we were taking pictures, but with watery eyes she said that house behind her was her own.  She and her children, grandchildren, and father had lived in the basement of her home for a month without gas, electricity and very little food.  They could hear the soldiers up above destroying everything! She told us she had worked her whole life to build this house and everything in it, but her only prayer to God was that He would save her family...and He did!

#20   Apartment near the medical clinic...

#21   Bucha / Irpin cars in the storage area...

#22   Some of the tank debris on the side if the clinic...

#23   Close up of the front of the clinic where the tank fired...

#24   Many destroyed tanks have been removed but we still saw enough...

#25   Destroyed private cars from Bucha and Irpin piled up to clear the roads!

#26   The only people we found who survived were those who found a place to hide in cellars and small basements. Residents who tried to leave quickly with their families most often died.   Looking at these cars. you can see hundreds of bullet holes and you have to wonder how many bullets does take to stop a family car? 

#27   Irpin...

#28   Another picture of the Resort that became headquarters for the Russian command staff...