The 76th Guards Air Assault Division from Pskov, a unit of the Vityaz security force under the direction of Russia’s National Guard, and Chechen units allied to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov were involved in Bucha when it was overrun by Russian soldiers.

A journalist spent three weeks in Bucha interviewing over 90 residents, evaluating photographic and video evidence supplied by the residents, and examining Russian documents left behind.

“Among the occupying forces were servicemen from Russia’s Vityaz security unit, according to an identity paper discovered at the scene.” The National Guard, Rosgvardiya, is in charge of Vityaz, whose presence in Bucha is revealed for the first time here. Viktor Zolotov, the company’s boss, declined to comment for this piece.

The 76th Guards Air Assault Division, a paratrooper group from Pskov in north-west Russia, was stationed in Bucha thanks to a love letter discovered in one residence taken by Russian soldiers. The handwritten note was intended to soldier Aleksandr Logvinenko, a Pskov paratrooper later recognized by media.

During March, journalists identified at least three Chechen forces loyal to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, another ardent Putin fan, operating in the vicinity of Bucha.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the Kyiv suburbs of Irpin, Bucha, and Hostomel, as well as the whole Kyiv region, from Russian invaders in early April, as reported. In liberated towns and villages, Russian forces carried out mass executions of people.

[embedpost slug=”shmyhal-gives-an-overview-of-the-ukraine-recovery-plan/”]