March 31 marks the anniversary of Bucha’s de-occupation from Russian forces. 

Four years ago, the world saw what Russia tried to conceal: civilians murdered in the streets, mass graves in residential yards, and numerous evidence of torture and abuse. 

Bucha became a point of no return. The world began to learn the truth about Russia’s war crimes. It was then that many fully realised that Russia’s war is a campaign of systematic violence – a war against humanity, against dignity, and against the very right to life. 

We thank the Ukrainian defenders who drove out the Russian forces from Bucha. We honour and remember those who gave their lives in these battles and those who were killed as a result of Russia’s aggression. 

Russia must not evade accountability for its crimes – in Bucha and in hundreds of other towns, cities, and villages across Ukraine. Because when there is no punishment, evil multiplies. And when crime is normalised, it becomes an invitation to commit new atrocities. 

Pressure, sanctions, and an international tribunal are about protecting human life and ensuring that the word “Bucha” stands not only for tragedy, but also for the inevitability of justice.