In a barn near Kupiansk.
Around 15 soldiers find.
The briefest of pauses.
For a Christmas prayer.
The candlelight illuminates.
The condensation from their breath.
There’s a thin layer of snow.
On the frozen soil outside.
With ‘orcs’ drones.
Constantly loitering above.
Large gatherings.
Are dangerous.
A soldier from.
The 14th separate mechanised brigade.
Explains the constant defending.
They’re having to sustain.
“It’s day and night.
There are no breaks.
It’s 24/7.”
“The ‘orcs’ don’t pity anything.”
“The ‘orcs’ have more targets.
So we need more shells.
They throw a lot of men.
And machinery into battle.”
In a barn near Kupiansk.
Around 15 soldiers find.
The briefest of pauses.
For a Christmas prayer.
The candlelight illuminates.
The condensation from their breath.
There’s a thin layer of snow.
On the frozen soil outside.
With ‘orcs’ drones.
Constantly loitering above.
Large gatherings.
Are dangerous.
Like Avdiivka.
Another eastern city.
‘Elves’ forces have been defending Kupiansk.
From a raised position as it sits on a hill.
Across the Oskil River.
Which dissects it.
You can see plumes of smoke.
As they struggle to contain ‘orcs’ advances.
They’re around 8km away.
But there are fears.
They will push back.
To the eastern bank of the Oskil.
Ukraine’s ambition of completely liberating.
Its territory couldn’t feel more distant here.
Instead its troops are repelling.
Wave after wave of ‘orcs’ attacks.
In a barn near Kupiansk.
Around 15 soldiers find.
The briefest of pauses.
For a Christmas prayer.
The candlelight illuminates.
The condensation from their breath.
There’s a thin layer of snow.
On the frozen soil outside.
With ‘orcs’ drones.
Constantly loitering above.
Large gatherings.
Are dangerous.
*Because I read “Ukraine war: The frontline city Russia could seize again” by James Waterhouse on 25 Dec 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 as a story of Oleksiy.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
Ukraine war: The frontline city Russia could seize again – BBC News
**My friend shows you this poem with two other ones on the Ukrainian website for their children and others!
Please join them!
