Heroes of Borodyanka: How a small town armed only with rifles took on Russian TANKS
When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his "special military operation" on February 24, Ukraine quickly got ready to face the offensive. Thousands signed up for the Territorial Defense Forces, while thousands of others began the long and exhausting journey out of Ukraine to neighboring EU nations. Cities quickly witnessed destruction and devastation on a scale last seen in World War 2, but that didn't stop the Ukrainians from putting up a valiant fight.
Over a month in, the trail of blood and violence has become a daily news item. We've seen examples of Russian war crimes from the city of Bucha, and that's not even the entire story. Routine Russian bombardment has leveled schools, apartment blocks, and even hospitals. Amongst them was a maternity hospital in Mariupol, hit on March 9. Cities like Kherson, Mariupol, and Odesa are amongst the worst-hit, but so is Borodyanka.
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The small town close to Ukraine's capital of Kyiv may not have made the headlines as much as Odesa or Mariupol, but a new report from the city shows it suffered as badly if not worse from the Russian invasion. On April 6, The Daily Mail showed what remained of Borodyanka, as well as a look at how the residents attempted to hold off Russia's army, despite not having much military experience.
The heroes of Borodyanka
Located around 31 miles from Kyiv, Borodyanka is a small urban settlement of around 13,000 people. it houses no Ukrainian military installations and is largely made up of residences and commercial buildings. The only issue? It was straight on the path from Belarus to Kyiv, and so came under intense attack. The residents were reportedly armed only with rifles, which they used to stall the Russian advance, but to little avail.
Intense bombardment from Russia's jets and tanks meant that the residents stood little chance, and within days the high street was quickly reduced to rubble. Within days of Russia's war, many fled the town, but thousands more stayed, only to be subjected to the brutality of Russia's soldiers. "In Bucha they killed people in the streets with guns. Here, it was by airplanes and bombing," said Anton Herashchenko, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Mail called it "the most intense urban devastation we have yet witnessed." Weeks after Russia leveled the town, hundreds are still trapped underneath the rubble, whether alive or dead, is a question that remains to be answered. "The damage is more intense than in Bucha," The Mail reported. As the Russians swept through the town, they reportedly took whatever they wanted, while arresting and beating anyone they wished to.
Ukrainians fear the war crimes committed could be worse than in Bucha, given the reports that Russians reportedly burnt the bodies to hide evidence. The residents may have failed to stall the Russian advance, but the Ukrainian army managed to liberate the town, as Russia opted to change its focus. Now the town remains largely deserted, barring those involved in clean-up operations, and a few survivors.
Even if the bodies are never found, the bombing of Borodyanka itself can be considered a war crime, as the BBC reported. However, with Russia vetoing any such action by the United Nations Security Council, justice for Borodyanka, Bucha, and other Ukrainian towns will remain elusive.