Year: 2024

Conscious, wrapped. In a foil blanket. As he receives treatment. From a nurse.   But he is more worried about. The men he’s left behind. “I can’t live. Without my guys.”   “They’re my friends. My second family.” He wants to get back to them. As soon as he is patched up.   The ‘orcs’ […]

You travel at speed. Towards the village of Lyptsi. Now under siege. You are being escorted by.   Members of ‘elves’ National Guard. Among the latest reinforcements. To try to halt this. Most recent ‘orcs’ advance.     They’ve gone from. A fierce battle in the east. To another further north. Without rest.     […]

Vovchansk’s police chief said. Fighting was intense and. ‘Orcs’ forces were establishing. Positions inside the town.   “The situation is extremely difficult. The enemy is taking. Positions on the streets of. The town of Vovchansk.”     ‘Mordor’ has claimed. Its forces have now taken. Control of two more settlements. In the region.   Lukyantski […]

Everyone knew that. This incursion was. Likely to happen. He is angry.     As the Commander of. An ‘elves’ Special Reconnaissance Unit. He fought in ‘elves’ surprise offensive. In Kharkiv in the autumn of 2022.   Which pushed back. An initial ‘orcs’ invasion. All the way back. To the border.   But now he […]

Residents of Vovchansk. And nearby villages. Are being bussed. To safety.   A local policeman. Was picking up residents. Who wanted to flee. To safety.     Most of those. Who’ve stayed behind. In Vovchansk are. The elderly and the poor.   But a 65-year-old. Has had enough. He made the sign of the cross. […]

“I was shocked. I wish I had known in advance.” “I was shocked. I wish I had known in advance.”     He has also left Vovchansk. He was shocked. By how close. The fighting was.   “On the one side of. The Vovcha River are ‘orcs’. On the other. Ours.” he said.   “Tanks […]

She said: “We lived. Under occupation in 2022. I don’t want to be. Under occupation again.”     They had fled the village of Liptsy. Near to where ‘orcs’ forces. Have also made another incursion. Across the border.   They packed their belongings. Including two dogs. Into an old rusting Lada car. And made the […]

“We escaped when. We heard machine guns. The fire was coming close.” She fled the besieged town.     A resident fled Vovchansk. With her family. Who lived in. A village nearby.   She had remained. In Vovchansk when. The ‘orcs’ first invaded. In early 2022.   “We survived and. Got used to it.” Life […]

An 87-year-old resident. Of Vovchansk had left the town. By bicycle on Sunday. Cycling 15km to safety.     As well as heavy shelling. “Machine gun fire. Could be heard. From both sides”.   “I had to run. Because it was impossible. To be there.” He said, adding.   The town had been. Cut off […]

Small fires were still. Pouring smoke. Across the remnants. Of his home.   He did not want to leave. Because he was afraid of. What might happen. To their three goats.     The booms of exchanging fire. Echo loudly down. Echo loudly down. The already bomb-damaged streets.   Hundreds more remain. In Vovchansk. Just […]