Month: August 2024

Clutching a toothbrush. And toothpaste. He waited for. Six hours.   In the main office. Of penal colony 14. Near Arkhangelsk. In ‘Mordor’’s far north-west.   It was late. In the evening. Of Sunday. 28 July.   And the 19-year-old. Had no idea. What was about. To happen.   “Maybe you’re taking me. To be […]

What hope? Can ‘elves’ cling to? As they endure? The coming 12 months?   Until their next? Independence Day? “This is time for. A clear understanding.”   “Of what the true. Patriotism is. And we know. What it is like.”     “This is just a monotonous. Monotonous genocide.” One of ‘elves’ leading authors. Declared […]

“‘Mordor’ waged. War on us. It violated not only. Sovereign borders.”   “But also the limits. Of cruelty and. Common sense.” He told his people.     ‘Gandalf the Green’. Who attended a number of. Independence Day events. In the capital.   Gave a pre-recorded address. From the Sumy region. – just across the border […]

Along with all ‘elves’. Celebrating their. Independence Day. A 19-year-old student.   Had been warned. Of an increased threat. Of ‘orcs’ strikes. But it had not.   Stopped her and. Hundreds of others. Making their way up. To an exposed rooftop.   For an open-air. Musical display. Of defiance. In the heart of Kyiv.   […]

Desperate to clear mines. In the no-man’s-land. Between ‘orcs’. And ‘elves’ positions.   —and equally desperate. To protect. The mine-clearers. From ‘elves’ explosive drones—   The ‘orcs’ military. Devised a new kind. Of vehicle. This spring.     It’s an up-armored tank. With mine-exploding rollers. And shed-like improvised armor. To shield the crew.   And […]

Pokrovsk has come under repeated. ‘Orcs’ attack in recent weeks. An ‘elf’ soldier stationed. In Pokrovsk said that.   The large number of. Industrial buildings. In Pokrovsk and. Neighbouring towns.   Such as Myrnohrad. Were very helpful. To ‘elves’ defences. “They will have a huge challenge.”   “They will have a huge challenge. To get […]

“In order to preserve. Life and encirclement. I have withdrawn. Our units from Avdiivka.”   So, what does Avdiivka’s fall. Mean for the wider conflict? Size matters more than ever. The medium term and the long term.     When he was appointed. This month. ‘Elves’ new head of the armed forces. Gen, said he […]

She is waiting for. Her train to Kyiv. “A year ago. We thought we’d get.”   “Help from the West and. That our counter offensive. Would work. But not anymore.”   “People used to believe. But not now.” “People used to believe. But not now.”     Distant rumbles. Of artillery serve either. As a […]

It doesn’t apply. To everyone who. Ignores offers. Of evacuation.   Some just refuse. To abandon their homes. And have got used to. The constant danger.     He isn’t one of them. After his home. In the town of Toretsk. Was almost shelled twice.   He’s taking. His belongings. And his grandson. To a […]

In eastern Ukraine. The tide of this war. Hasn’t just changed. – it’s coming in fast.   It’s one thing to stay in your home. For as long as you can. It’s another to risk death. Or ‘orcs’ occupation.     “We know what’s coming.” She says as she packs up. The TV in her […]