Hundreds gathered to pay tribute to those who died in the massacre (Image: Reuters)

It has been a year since Russian troops withdrew from Bucha, but it is still synonymous with tragedy.

Ukraine managed to regain control of the city near Kiev in March last year.

Vladimir Putin’s soldiers left a trail of destruction in their wake, while the world remained shocked at what happened.

Images showed bodies lying in the streets or in mass graves – some with their hands tied behind their backs and with evidence that they had been raped, burned or tortured.

Hundreds of bodies were uncovered over weeks and months, including some children.

Ukrainian troops compared Bucha to a scene from a “horror movie”.

Russia claimed the massacre was “fake” and Ukraine “fake the whole thing”.

But satellite images later on Feb. 28, before Putin’s troops left, showed bodies in the streets of Bucha.

People held candles as rain poured down the streets of Bucha (Image: Reuters)

epaselect epa10552612 (LR) Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plencovic carry candles to the church where mass graves were discovered after Russian troops raided Bucha, a suburb , moved from Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, March 31, 2023. The event was held to mark the first anniversary of the city's

(LR) Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plencovic (Photo: EPA)

People take part in a vigil to mark the first anniversary of the liberation of the city of Bucha during the Russian attack on Ukraine in Bucha, outside Kiev, Ukraine, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Ukraine liberated Bucha on March 31, 2022 after Putin’s troops withdrew (Photo: Reuters)

People take part in a vigil to mark the first anniversary of the liberation of the city of Bucha during the Russian attack on Ukraine in Bucha, outside Kiev, Ukraine, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

The true extent of the destruction in the city was then revealed to the world (Photo: Reuters)

A vigil was held today to celebrate a year since the city’s liberation.

On this occasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was accompanied by the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Moldova, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia.

They clutched candles as they approached a memorial dedicated to the dead in Bucha.

During the vigil, the names of the 77 victims found in a mass grave next to a Bucha church were read.

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger address local residents during their visit to the town of Bucha on the occasion of the first anniversary of liberation. Russian attack on Ukraine, outside Kyiv, Ukraine March 31, 2023. Press Office of the President of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS EDITOR ATTENTION - THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FURNISHED BY A THIRD PARTY.

Volodymyr Zelensky said: ‘We will never forgive’ (Image: Reuters)

People take part in a vigil to mark the first anniversary of the liberation of the city of Bucha during the Russian attack on Ukraine in Bucha, outside Kiev, Ukraine, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Today is the first anniversary of the city’s liberation (Image: Reuters)

A woman wipes her tears as she attends a vigil marking the first anniversary of the liberation of the city of Bucha amid the Russian attack on Ukraine in Bucha, outside Kiev, Ukraine on March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

A woman wipes away tears during the vigil (Image: Reuters)

epaselect epa10552310 Soldiers raise the state flag of Ukraine during a ceremony near the city of Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, March 31, 2023. The event was held to mark the first anniversary of the

Soldiers raise the state flag of Ukraine in a ceremony (Photo: EPA)

Eleven Ukrainian soldiers who died in the Battle of Bucha were also named.

President Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram: “We will never forgive. We will punish any offender.”

According to Zelensky, more than 1,400 civilian deaths, including 37 children, have been documented by Ukrainian authorities in the Bucha district.

More than 175 people have been found in mass graves and alleged torture chambers, he added.

Russia captured Bucha, 34 kilometers northwest of Kiev, on March 12, 2022.

Ukrainian forces regained control on March 31.

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