The settlement arose with the construction of the
Kyiv–
Kovel railway in 1898 around a small train stop by the along the Kyiv–Kovel railway similar to one in the modern city of
Irpin. In close vicinity to the Bucha train stop, there was a small village called Yablunka, where there used to be a brick factory. Yablunka is mentioned in the 19th century Polish Geographic dictionary as the village of Jabłonka 37
versts away from Kyiv. The construction of the
Irpin Central House of Culture was instigated by the administration of a brick and tile factory reported as being in Bucha, and constructed and funded by the people of Irpin in 1954. Much of the building was destroyed by Russian shelling in March 2022. During
World War II, before the
liberation of Kiev from Nazi forces in December 1943, Bucha was the location of the headquarters of the
1st Ukrainian Front commanded by
General Vatutin. Bucha was granted city status on 9 February 2006 (previously, Bucha was an urban-type settlement within the
Irpin city municipality). Until 18 July 2020, Bucha was incorporated as a
city of oblast significance. In July 2020, as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Kyiv Oblast to seven, the city of Bucha was merged into
Bucha Raion.
2022 Russian invasion During the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, heavy fighting took place in Bucha as part of the
Kyiv offensive, resulting in severe Russian losses. The city was captured by Russian forces on 12 March. Mayor
Anatoliy Fedoruk announced the recapture of Bucha by Ukrainian forces on 31 March 2022. A few days after the recapture, on 2 April 2022, news reports and videos emerged showing streets in Bucha covered with the bodies of men dressed in civilian clothes. Some of those found had their hands tied. Among those killed were women and children. According to first estimations at least 280 bodies were found. There was also evidence that Russian soldiers had systemically
tortured, mutilated and executed many Ukrainians in the basement of a summer camp. The event caused the Ukrainian government to call on the
ICC to investigate whether or not Russia had committed war crimes. On 7 April, the mayor of Bucha,
Anatoliy Fedoruk, reported that almost 90% of the dead residents had bullet wounds, not shrapnel wounds. Soon after the town's liberation, rebuilding efforts began.
CNN reported in February 2023 that some areas looked almost "back to normal". The road near Bucha has a "graveyard" of destroyed Russian military equipment that has become a tourist attraction and pilgrimage destination for Ukrainians to "see what victory looks like." == Population ==