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 flat.
In Kostyantynivka.
She’s having it.
Delivered to Kyiv.
Before making the journey.
There with her son.
“We’re tired all day.
And suffer moods.
And panic attacks.
It’s constantly depressing.”
“We’re tired all day.
And suffer moods.
And panic attacks.
And we’re scared.”
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.
In February.
‘Orcs’ captured.
The strategic town.
Of Avdiivka.
Since then.
The invaders have advanced.
Further west.
And taken several villages.
‘Orcs’ troops are now.
Attacking in five areas.
Along the 1,100km.
Front line.
Over 1.2 million people.
– or two thirds of the population –
Have left the ‘elves’-controlled.
Donetsk region.
Since ‘orcs’ full scale invasion.
Two years ago.
Though Ukraine says.
Its forces are “holding on”.
And it’s here in the eastern.
Donetsk region that.
‘Elves’ defenders are.
Being tested the most.
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.
People in cities.
Like Pokrovsk.
Kostyantynivka.
And Kramatorsk.
Are now facing.
A fast-approaching front line.
And even.
Occupation.
She and her mother.
Are finding life.
Increasingly difficult.
As the ‘orcs’ advance closer.
Their city is littered.
With signs of.
The approaching threat.
30km away.
Almost every street.
Has a damaged building.
Workers replace gold panels.
On a church.
After they were blown off.
By a missile strike.
On the neighbouring train station.
Now destroyed.
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.
Anxiety fills.
The cold air in this town.
Once part of the industrial heartland.
Of the former Soviet Union.
‘Mordor’ slowly destroys.
‘Elves’ cities as.
It tries to take them.
That’s what is feared the most here.
She explains that.
Her mother is staying.
But she’s confident.
She’ll follow her eventually.
“I’ve already left twice.
What’s the point?”
Says a defiant mother from.
Her apartment around the corner.
She gives you slippers.
To wear around her home.
Which explains.
Why it’s spotless.
“It’s scary everywhere.
The whole country.
Is on fire.”
Her eyes moisten.
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.
While the whole of Ukraine.
Is a war zone.
The Donetsk region – along with.
Four others – is a battlefield.
When you weave.
Through its dense forest.
And expansive.
Rugged terrain.
You always feel like.
You’re approaching.
The coal face.
Of this conflict.
You can hear heavy fire.
From as far as 40 km away.
So the distant sound.
Of artillery is constant.
From one vantage point.
You can see.
The erosion of.
‘Elves’ territory.
Plumes of smoke come.
From the directions.
Of Avdiivka, a town.
‘Orcs’ have recently taken.
And Horlivka.
Which it’s controlled.
Since 2014.
Plumes of smoke come.
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.
‘Mordor’ is using its size.
Air superiority and.
Deeper ammunition reserves.
To keep pushing.
At a time when.
Western military aid to Ukraine.
Is running low or being held up.
By domestic politics.
Nearby lies.
A wide valley.
With several reservoirs.
It’s this natural landscape.
Which Ukraine says.
Will allow its forces.
To “stabilize”.
The front line.
Perhaps after.
Chaotic withdrawals.
In the past.
‘Elves’ generals are willing to.
Temporarily concede territory.
In the hope.
It can be liberated.
In the long term.
Across the front line.
There is a small minority.
Of people labelled.
As “Zhdun” by the ‘elves’.
It’s a derogatory word.
Which means “waiters”.
Referring to those who are.
Pro-‘orcs’ and waiting to be occupied.
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.
*Because I read “Ukraine war: Eastern residents brace for Russian advance” by James Waterhouse on 7 Mar 2024, 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 Mariya and Tetyana.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
Ukraine war: Eastern residents brace for Russian advance (bbc.com)
**My friend kindly shows you this poem in one page of the Ukrainian website for their children and others!
Please join them! You can read my 100 poems here at once.
