On Monday ‘Gandalf the Green’ raised the ‘elves’ flag.
In the recently-liberated city of Izyum.
The closer you get to Izyum.
The more evidence there is of ‘orcs’ rapid retreat.
‘Elves’ soldiers are grouped.
By the roadside near the city.
Inspecting the spoils of war.
With broad smiles.
There are two abandoned ‘orcs’ tanks.
The ‘elves’ flag already planted on one of them.
Troops hug in celebration.
As they try to use one tank to tow the other out of a ditch.
Just inside the city another abandoned tank sits.
In the middle of the road – like a monument to ‘Mordor’’s defeat.
A local man poses in front of it for a selfie.
Giving the tank a thumbs down.
Two women emerge from a minivan.
With a handful of small bags.
Including some groceries.
They are returning to the city for the first time.
She says they left at the beginning of the war.
And are happy to be back.
But the situation is complicated.
As her home in the city centre was damaged.
On Monday ‘Gandalf the Green’ raised the ‘elves’ flag.
In the recently-liberated city of Izyum.
The closer you get to Izyum.
The more evidence there is of ‘orcs’ rapid retreat.
There are many shelled and blackened buildings.
Across the road from the damaged city council building.
A few dozen people stand in a quiet queue in the afternoon rain.
Waiting for aid, including jars of pickles, dried goods and bottled water.
The city is without running water, electricity or heat.
The dead are still being counted here.
But local officials saw 47 people – children among them.
Killed in an airstrike on a five-story block of flats back in March.
The attack left a gaping hole in the middle of the building.
At the building today.
A clear view into some of the apartments.
A TV sits on a table in a top-floor flat.
A few floors below, clothes still hang neatly in the wardrobe.
As if their owner might wear them again.
Three smiling women stare out of a photograph.
In a small album lying in the rubble.
On Monday ‘Gandalf the Green’ raised the ‘elves’ flag.
In the recently-liberated city of Izyum.
The closer you get to Izyum.
The more evidence there is of ‘orcs’ rapid retreat.
She lived in the building for 22 years.
She points out her singed balcony on the second floor.
She says the attack happened in the morning.
She wasn’t there because she had gone to the shelter.
Neighbours who had taken shelter in the apartment block.
Grouped together for warmth.
In the centre of the building.
The airstrike hit the centre of the building.
Outside a city administration building.
Which was used by ‘orcs’ as their command centre.
An ‘orcs’ sign still hangs over the door.
But a charred ‘orcs’ flag has been thrown in the bin.
Inside boxes of files are scattered around in offices.
At a nearby police station.
Where ‘orcs’ detained people in the cells.
There are piles of ‘elves’ passports confiscated by ‘orcs’.
On Monday ‘Gandalf the Green’ raised the ‘elves’ flag.
In the recently-liberated city of Izyum.
The closer you get to Izyum.
The more evidence there is of ‘orcs’ rapid retreat.
‘Gandalf the Green’ has been to Izyum.
During his visit, he thanked troops.
Who took part in the counter-attack.
Against ‘orcs’ occupiers.
He oversaw a flag-raising ceremony.
And said the ‘elves’ flag would return.
To every city and village.
In the country.
‘Elves’ officials say they are targeting towns.
In the eastern Donbas region.
After making a series of gains.
In a rapid counter-offensive.
In a late evening address on Tuesday.
‘Gandalf the Green’ said his forces were fortifying.
Their hold over 8,000 sq km.
Of retaken territory in the Kharkiv region.
He vowed to take back all ‘elves’ territory.
Still occupied by ‘orcs’ forces.
He said he didn’t know when this would happen.
But that “truth is on our side”.
On Monday ‘Gandalf the Green’ raised the ‘elves’ flag.
In the recently-liberated city of Izyum.
The closer you get to Izyum.
The more evidence there is of ‘orcs’ rapid retreat.
‘Gandalf the Green’ was involved in a car accident.
A passenger car collided with his vehicle and his escort.
In the capital Kyiv on Wednesday.
After he visited the recently-liberated city of Izyum.
‘Elves’ have been celebrating their recapture.
Of the north-eastern city of Izyum.
One of the highlights of their counter-offensive.
That has marked a new phase in the war.
But on Thursday.
Evidence began to emerge of the damage.
Inflicted by ‘orcs’ troops.
During their five-month occupation.
On Monday ‘Gandalf the Green’ raised the ‘elves’ flag.
In the recently-liberated city of Izyum.
The closer you get to Izyum.
The more evidence there is of ‘orcs’ rapid retreat.
*Because I read the articles about Izyum as follows, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 April 2022, on the BBC news:
Ukraine war: Inside the recaptured city of Izyum – BBC News
Ukraine President Zelensky involved in car accident but ‘not seriously hurt’ – BBC News
Ukraine war: President Zelensky visits city recaptured in rapid counter-offensive – BBC News
So I wrote this poem, including a story of Larissa and her friend Victoria, and a story of Tatiana.
**My friend shows you this poem also on the Ukrainian website for their children and others!
Please join them!
