The Power of Propaganda & Deception: How the “Bucha Massacre” Ignited War & Shattered Peace

CHAPTER 1: The Propaganda Value of Bucha

By now, it’s clear: Bucha became the central narrative used to justify the rejection of the peace agreement proposed in Istanbul in April 2022.

It was presented in the media as the reason why Ukraine could no longer negotiate with Russia — a moral line had been crossed, and the only path forward was war.

Beyond international diplomacy, Bucha served as a rallying cry for Ukrainian society.

It generated a powerful sense of national unity and determination, galvanizing the public to continue the fight with renewed purpose.

In this way, Bucha wasn’t just a tragedy — it became a turning point, heavily leveraged for its emotional and symbolic power.

Watch Oleksiy Arestovich, who was directly involved in the peace negotiations, discuss how the Bucha incident reshaped the talks and sealed the fate of the proposed deal.