However, ‘elf’ commander-in-chief.
Says that the army has managed.
To stop the ‘orcs’ advancement.
Towards Pokrovsk.
A battalion commander of.
The 110th brigade.
Said that the front line.
On the northern flank.
Of ‘orcs’ assault.
On Pokrovsk.
Had indeed.
Been stabilised.
However, ‘orcs’ attacks.
Are mostly focused on.
The southern flank, he says.
Where heavy battles are continuing.
One of the areas.
On that flank that.
‘Orcs’ are trying to seize.
Is Selidove.
A small town.
South-east of Pokrovsk.
The 15th Brigade of.
The National Guard defends it.
Relentless ‘orcs’ attacks.
Give them no respite.
“Prepare for action!”
The unit commander orders.
After receiving coordinates.
Of a new target.
All crew members rush to.
An old American M-101 howitzer.
This type of gun was used.
In World War Two.
Now ‘elves’ fire it.
To stop ‘orcs’ attacks.
The commander shouts “Fire!”
And pulls the rope.
The explosion is deafening.
The gun is covered with smoke.
The fighting.
In his sector.
Is very intense.
Says the 31-year-old commander.
“The enemy attacks.
In groups of up to.
15 people.
Sometimes up to 60.”
“We fire up to.
200 rounds a day.
To repel them.”
This is a big change.
This is a big change.
To last winter when.
Big guns stayed silent.
For most of the day.
But the more.
They shell the ‘orcs’ positions.
The greater.
The risk of return fire.
So, after each series of rounds.
They head to a dugout.
To wait out.
‘Orcs’ counter barrage.
And when they hear.
A loud thud.
In the distance.
They go quiet.
“A glide bomb.”
One of the soldiers mutters.
It’s this weapon.
That they fear the most.
It has a devastating effect.
And the gunners.
Have nowhere.
To hide from it.
The commander gives.
An evasive answer when asked.
Whether it would be more useful.
To use ‘elves’ forces.
Involved in the Kursk operation.
To defend the Donbas region instead.
“Commanders have a better view.
To make strategic decisions.”
However, ‘elf’ commander-in-chief.
Says that the army has managed.
To stop the ‘orcs’ advancement.
Towards Pokrovsk.
A battalion commander of.
The 110th brigade.
Said that the front line.
On the northern flank.
Of ‘orcs’ assault.
On Pokrovsk.
Had indeed.
Been stabilised.
However, ‘orcs’ attacks.
Are mostly focused on.
The southern flank, he says.
Where heavy battles are continuing.
The front line here.
Can move quickly.
Sometimes it can be a total.
Surprise for ‘elves’ forces.
Last month.
A group of seven soldiers.
Of the 68th Brigade.
Started their shift.
At the forward position.
In the village of Komyshivka.
15km west.
Of Selidove.
Their task was to stop.
Any attempts of.
‘Orcs’ forces.
To break through.
The next day.
However, they were encircled.
By the ‘orcs’ forces.
Thanks to extremely brave drivers.
And the negligence of.
‘Orcs’ soldiers.
They were evacuated.
Three days later.
However, ‘elf’ commander-in-chief.
Says that the army has managed.
To stop the ‘orcs’ advancement.
Towards Pokrovsk.
A battalion commander of.
The 110th brigade.
Said that the front line.
On the northern flank.
Of ‘orcs’ assault.
On Pokrovsk.
Had indeed.
Been stabilised.
However, ‘orcs’ attacks.
Are mostly focused on.
The southern flank, he says.
Where heavy battles are continuing.
*Because I read “Inside Pokrovsk – the vital Ukrainian town in Russia’s sights” by Abdujalil Abdurasulov on 9 Sep 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 Lt Col Oleh Demyanenko, and a story of Dmytro.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
Ukraine war: Russian invaders close in on Pokrovsk (bbc.com)
