Kyiv Suburb of Bucha Marks One Year Since Liberation

Image copyright: Getty Images [via The Guardian]

The Spin

Anti-Russia narrative

Bucha has become indelibly linked with Russian war crimes and atrocities committed throughout the course of this war. Russian forces killed hundreds of civilians in the city — some of whom were executed at point-blank range — while scores more were tortured and underwent other forms of ill treatment.

Pro-Russia narrative

The events of Bucha were staged to vilify Russia's armed forces. Worse still, they took place when Ukraine had agreed to basic principles of a peace agreement before they suddenly changed course. Kyiv's backers in the West wanted the war with Russia to continue for the sake of their own foreign policy goals.

Metaculus Prediction



© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.13.0

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.13.0