Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As cosy and comfortable.
To live in.
The eastern ‘elves’ town of Bakhmut is now.
Known across the world as the site.
Of the longest and possibly bloodiest battle.
In ‘Mordor’’s war on Ukraine.
It is now almost completely destroyed.
And almost all of its ruins are.
Controlled by ‘orcs’ forces.
Nearly every single resident has now left.
Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As extremely well looked-after.
Cosy and leafy.
The local winery was.
Among the biggest and best producers.
Of the fizzy drink in the USSR.
And then in independent Ukraine.
Set up in a huge abandoned gypsum mine.
In the 1950s.
Now owned by a company.
And its marketing director remembers the cellars.
Its location.
About 70 metres below ground.
Made it easier to achieve the right temperature.
For the drink to ferment.
“It was an amazing feeling.
It is an underground city.
So vast that they used proper vehicles.
To get about within it.”
“Lorries to transport goods.
And people used buggies.
There were endless rows of bottles.
And you couldn’t see where they ended.”
“It was very nice inside.
With classical music playing.
And walls painted.
Yellow, green and red.”
“It was mesmerising.
Nothing beats wine-testing underground.
It is one of the main symbols of Bakhmut.
And it had a soul.”
“Company workers planted a vineyard.
Right next to the main office.
And there was a nice garden.
With peacocks.”
For decades, sparkling wine from Bakhmut.
Was highly sought after in the Soviet Union.
And it was popular during celebrations.
Such as weddings or New Year’s Eve.
The winery’s operations.
Were suspended the day.
‘Mordor’ invaded Ukraine.
On 24 February 2022.
And most of its employees.
Were evacuated out of Bakhmut.
In May 2023.
The head of the Wagner mercenary group said.
All of the winery’s buildings.
Had been destroyed.
Wagner has been at the forefront of ‘orcs’ forces.
Fighting ‘elves’ troops in Bakhmut.
Bakhmut was known.
Far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
For its sparkling wine.
War changed everything.
Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As cosy and comfortable.
To live in.
The eastern ‘elves’ town of Bakhmut is now.
Known across the world as the site.
Of the longest and possibly bloodiest battle.
In ‘Mordor’’s war on Ukraine.
It is now almost completely destroyed.
And almost all of its ruins are.
Controlled by ‘orcs’ forces.
Nearly every single resident has now left.
Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As extremely well looked-after.
Cosy and leafy.
“It was a prestigious company to work for.
When I got a job there.
People were surprised I got hired.
Without powerful friends in high places.”
She spent almost 20 years.
Working for a salt-mining company.
“It was the best time of my life.
We felt secure.”
She told the story.
Of two former colleagues.
Who worked in a lab.
Next door to her office.
“One was killed when a missile hit.
Her house in January.
It happened.
On her birthday, actually.”
“The other one has started.
Drinking herself to death.
It could be the feeling of helplessness.
Or the stress of it all.”
“Our government.
Had decided to make.
A showcase.
Out of such frontline cities.”
“To show those who left Ukraine.
What they were missing.
A lot of money was spent on Bakhmut.
Over the past years.”
Salt from underground mines.
Near Bakhmut was exported.
Far beyond Ukraine.
War changed everything.
Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As cosy and comfortable.
To live in.
The eastern ‘elves’ town of Bakhmut is now.
Known across the world as the site.
Of the longest and possibly bloodiest battle.
In ‘Mordor’’s war on Ukraine.
It is now almost completely destroyed.
And almost all of its ruins are.
Controlled by ‘orcs’ forces.
Nearly every single resident has now left.
Residents of Bakhmut describe.
The city before the war.
As extremely well looked-after.
Cosy and leafy.
*Because I read “Ukrainians remember Bakhmut, city of salt and sparkling wine” by S Vitaly Shevchenko on 11 June 2023, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem, including a story of Oleksandra, and a story of Anzhelika.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
Ukrainians remember Bakhmut, city of salt and sparkling wine – BBC News
**My friend shows you this poem with another poem together also on the Ukrainian website for their children and others!
Kurama (Japan). Two poems about the city Bakhmut before the war – Мала Сторінка (storinka.org)
Please join them!
