Year: 2024

In the war’s third year. No end is in sight. Momentum in long wars. Shifts back and forth.     Wounded men from. The garden centre. Lying in hospital beds. With shattered limbs.   “Honestly. I don’t know what will happen.” His legs were crushed. By the ceiling as it collapsed.   “I’d like it […]

She believes her life was. Saved by pallets of. Printed paper that took. The worst of the explosion.   She was emotional. Sobbing then trying to smile. Traumatised by everything. That has happened to her.     A body bag was. Being carried out of. The remains of. A burning print factory.   Less than […]

She travels to. Front-line villages. To try and evacuate residents. At risk of ‘orcs’ fire.   ‘Mordor’ has been on the offensive. In the Kharkiv oblast. Or province, since its forces. Crossed the border on 10 May.     You followed her and her minibus. Into the border area. Staying well clear. Of Vovchansk.   […]

The kindergarten was on fire. When she drove down. A dirt road into. The hamlet of Yurchenkove.   North-east of Kharkiv city. And close enough to. The ‘orcs’ border. To feel very dangerous.   She is a psychologist. She has spent a year. Going into. Front-line villages.   Threatened by ‘orcs’. To evacuate civilians. No […]

As the building burned. Sending black smoke. Across Kharkiv. He looked on in despair.   Two glide bombs destroyed. A DIY superstore. And garden centre. On Saturday afternoon.     He, a manager of one of. The other stores. In the shopping centre. Looked on in despair.   “The ‘orcs’ want to burn. Everything down. […]

In the days following. The initial ‘orcs’ assault. Across the border. North of Kharkiv.   There were rumors. The 82nd Air Assault Brigade. Was rushing to reinforce. The garrison in Vovchansk.     In early 2023. The United States donated nearly. 200 ex-U.S. Army Stryker. Fighting vehicles to Ukraine.   The general staff in Kyiv. […]

In early April. ‘Elves’ forces were. In crisis. At their weakest.   In early April. ‘Elves’ forces were. In crisis. At their weakest.     Understaffed and. Starved of ammunition. They used to get. From the United States.   And ‘Mordor’ knew it. The ‘orcs’ attacked. And ‘Mordor’ knew it. The ‘orcs’ attacked.   At […]

In the village of Lyptsi. ‘Elves’ forces appear. To have blunted. ‘Orcs’ surprise offensive.   A few weeks ago. They were rapidly. Advancing towards. The city of Kharkiv.   But with the help. Of reinforcements. Ukraine is slowly. Stemming the tide.   The threat from the north. Though has not. Gone away. Lyptsi is still […]

The ‘elves’ ground forces. Have just 100 or so. Combat brigades. And many of them are exhausted.   From months or years. Of nonstop fighting. the 47th. Mechanized Brigade, for instance.     The 47th. Mechanized Brigade is. One of the ‘elves’ army’s. Best brigades.   Equipped with American-made. Armored vehicles. And trained to. NATO […]

At an artillery position. Hidden in a tree-line. Outside Vovchansk. Men have been firing.   Men of ‘elves’ 57th Brigade. Have been firing. 50 to 100 rounds a day. To defend the town.   When you arrive. They’re waiting for. A fresh delivery of ammunition for. Their ‘orcs’-made self-propelled gun.   Another 20 rounds are […]