One missile hit close.
While the other struck.
The mall in the centre of Kremenchuk.
“We were working.”
At 16:00 on Monday.
“We thought we were far away from the frontier.”
“We didn’t invade anyone.
We just want to live.”
He has a shrapnel wound, concussion and multiple scratches.
His wife was at home.
Then the explosion struck.
Instantly she tried to call her husband, fearing the worst.
“He picked up his phone.
He said he was in the centre of the fire.”
Her neighbours helped her get to the site of it.
“Everything was black.
And then the neighbours said he was in the hospital.”
They just celebrated their anniversary, and her birthday next week.
One missile hit close.
While the other struck.
The mall in the centre of Kremenchuk.
“We tried to get out.
I helped my wife.
I saw people lying around, some weren’t responding.”
“The fire was getting bigger.
I was walking on glass.”
He remembers waking up in the ruins next to his wife.
“I didn’t think
this would happen.
There are women and children. It’s a safe place.”
One missile hit close.
While the other struck.
The mall in the centre of Kremenchuk.
A steady stream of people.
Coming to light a candle.
Laying flowers, paying their respects to those killed.
A memorial to those.
Next to the building’s remains.
Others are waiting to hear of news of those missing.
With tears in her eyes.
She had friends working there.
“My friends there are all young and under 30.”
“My son was meant to be there.
What are ‘orcs’ doing?
We’re going to get killed. I want ‘orcs’ to take responsibility.”
One missile hit close.
While the other struck.
The mall in the centre of Kremenchuk.
*Because first I read “Inside Kremenchuk’s devastated shopping centre”, and then “Kremenchuk strike: ‘I didn’t think they would hit a mall – it’s a safe place’” both by Sophie Williams in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, on 28 June 2022, and more, including the video that my friend sent to me.
And also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 April 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem as a story of Maksym and his wife, a story of Mykola, and a story of Anna.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
Kremenchuk strike: ‘I didn’t think they would hit a mall – it’s a safe place’ – BBC News
Ukraine war: Kremenchuk shopping centre attack claims fact-checked – BBC News
**My friend shows you this poem also on the Ukrainian website for their children and others!
Please join them!
