The Witch of Bakhmut is a legendary figure from Ukrainian folklore. Bakhmut is a city in eastern Ukraine, and the witch is said to have lived there during the 18th century. According to the legends, the Witch of Bakhmut was a woman with dark powers and a sinister reputation. She was believed to have mastered the black arts and practiced witchcraft in secret. The locals were both fascinated and terrified by her abilities. There are many tales and stories associated with the Witch of Bakhmut.
Meet Ukraine's Witch, the lawyer who became a mortar commander fighting Russians in Bakhmut
Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Olha Bihar was a lawyer working for a firm in Kyiv while completing her PhD in tax law.
Fifteen months later, the 31-year-old is a commander of a mortar unit, an artillery officer and a veteran of the Battle of Bakhmut, with the call sign Witch.
The origins of that name remain almost as secretive as the start date of Ukraine's long awaited counteroffensive.
"My call sign is from 2014. I'll tell the story about my call sign. But after the war," she told the ABC during a break from weapons training at a secret location in eastern Ukraine.
Olha's unit spent five months on the front lines of the Battle of Bakhmut, fighting Russian forces in one of the bloodiest battles of the 21st century.
"In Bakhmut you understand that your life and all things that you thought before were important are not important," she said.
"You see buildings and houses blowing up and people dying, and you understand at that moment that we have something more important than money, than real estate, than cars.
"We have a very important thing: our freedom, democracy and law."
As well as launching artillery at Russian forces, Olha has been publishing videos on TikTok about life on the front lines.
There are many tales and stories associated with the Witch of Bakhmut. In some versions, she was said to have the ability to shape-shift into different animals or control the weather. It was believed that she could curse crops and bring misfortune to anyone who crossed her path.
How a young mum became a warrior
On February 24 last year, Olha woke to the sound of Russian missiles hitting Ukraine's capital.
Before the war, Olha was a lawyer working for a firm in Kyiv while completing her PhD in tax law. ( Instagram: Olha Bihar )
She went to her 18-year-old brother's room and asked him if he wanted to leave the city.
"He said, 'No, I want to defend my country'," she said.
The next day, Olha, her brother and mother joined a long queue and enlisted with Ukraine's armed forces.
Her mother and brother are now serving as combat medics.
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She is fighting for a better future for her seven-year-old son.
He has spent the past 15 months living with his aunt in another country.
"One week before the invasion, I got information that Russia was ready for war," she said.
"So I just bought the tickets, and I told my son that it's better to be in a safe place. For him, it's a little bit difficult because he likes his school, his friends, and he is asking me every time, 'Mum, when I can go back home?'
"I say to him 'a little bit later, please'. I'm happy that he never heard the sounds of explosions, and never heard the sound of sirens. It's important for his psychological health."
Olha sent her young son to live with family in another country so she would know he was safe while she fought in the war. ( ABC News: West Matteeussen )
To explain why she made the sacrifice of being separated from her son, Olha quoted her younger brother who had just won a law scholarship to study at Kyiv University.
"My brother said, 'I don't want to study law because we don't need to study law if Russia comes to our country. There is no law in Russia and people have no rules'," she said.
"So we have to defend our country. And then we can think about the future."
Olha's family are originally from Kramatorsk in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
For her, this is another motivation to stay and fight.
"I was a witness to Russian crimes, military crimes in 2014 when they entered our territories and took control," she said.
"People got killed and tortured, and I cannot live with these things. I have to defend my country."
The Witch of Bakhmut was said to live in a small cabin deep in the woods, far away from the prying eyes of the townspeople. She was said to keep a cauldron filled with strange concoctions and perform rituals to summon dark spirits. Some claimed to have even seen her flying through the night sky on a broomstick. Despite her intimidating reputation, there are also tales of the witch using her powers for good. She was said to have helped villagers find lost items or cure illnesses, but only if they approached her with respect and paid her a generous price. The legend of the Witch of Bakhmut continue to intrigue and captivate people to this day. The stories have been passed down through generations, and there are still those who claim to have encountered her or her descendants. While many dismiss the Witch of Bakhmut as mere folklore and superstition, there are those who believe in her powers and continue to seek her out for help. Whether she was a malevolent force or a misunderstood healer, the Witch of Bakhmut remains an enigmatic figure in Ukrainian folklore..
Reviews for "Exploring the witch hunts in Bakhmut: Causes and consequences"
- John Doe - 2 out of 5 stars - The Witch of Bakhmut was a disappointing read for me. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The plot was predictable and the pacing was slow, making it hard to stay engaged. The writing style was also not to my liking, as I found it to be overly descriptive and repetitive. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and would not recommend this book.
- Jane Smith - 1 out of 5 stars - I really struggled to get through The Witch of Bakhmut. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, with abrupt jumps in time and poorly developed subplots. The characters were unrelatable and their motivations were unclear. The writing itself was also a letdown, with clunky dialogue and excessive use of cliches. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
- Michael Johnson - 2.5 out of 5 stars - The Witch of Bakhmut had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. The world-building was underdeveloped and the magical elements felt forced. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed action scenes. The main character was frustratingly naive and made questionable decisions throughout the story. While the book had some redeeming qualities, such as the atmospheric setting, overall it was a miss for me.
- Sarah Thompson - 2 out of 5 stars - I found The Witch of Bakhmut to be a lackluster read. The writing style was dull and didn't draw me in. The plot was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it hard to invest in their journeys. Additionally, the pacing was off, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, I was left uninterested and unimpressed by this book.