Recalling Bucha deaths, Zelenskiy describes 'horrific' year in Kyiv region

FILE PHOTO: Bucha deputy mayor Serhii Shepetko places flowers on graves of unidentified people killed by Russian soldiers during occupation of the Bucha town, on a day of the first anniversary of Russia's attack on Ukraine, at the town's cemetery, outside Kyiv, Ukraine February 24, 2023. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's president said on Thursday the past year had been "the most horrific" in the lives of many residents of the Kyiv region, where Russian troops are accused of committing war crimes before withdrawing a year ago.

The Ukrainian military recaptured the small towns of Irpin and Bucha outside the capital, Kyiv, in late March last year.