In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away—
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.
On 12 August.
‘Gandalf the Green’ announced.
The results of.
An offensive operation.
That had been underway.
Since January 2026.
That had been underway.
Since January 2026.
At the junction of.
The Dnipropetrovsk.
Zaporizhzhia and.
Donetsk regions.
They shuddered to think that the chase might fail,
And the Beaver, excited at last,
Went bounding along on the tip of its tail,
For the daylight was nearly past.
The ‘elves’ army.
Managed to liberate.
The ‘elves’ army.
Managed to liberate.
The largest area.
Of territory.
Since autumn 2022.
What is known?
The first phase of.
The ‘elves’ Armed Forces’ operation.
In the Oleksandrivka sector.
Began on 29 January.
“There is Thingumbob shouting!” the Bellman said,
“He is shouting like mad, only hark!
He is waving his hands, he is wagging his head,
He has certainly found a Snark!”
At that time.
‘Orcs’ troops.
Who had invaded.
The Dnipropetrovsk region.
In the summer.
Of 2025.
Were approaching.
The village of Pokrovske.
(Not to be confused.
With Pokrovsk.
In the Donetsk region).
The village of Pokrovske.
Which is of.
Logistical importance and.
Its southern outskirts.
– the village of Oleksandrivka.
They gazed in delight, while the Butcher exclaimed
“He was always a desperate wag!”
They beheld him—their Baker—their hero unnamed—
On the top of a neighbouring crag,
At the same time.
The ‘orcs’ army was conducting.
Offensive operations.
On the flanks.
Attempting to capture.
The villages of Velykomykhailivka.
And Novopavlivka.
Further north.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region.
And – further south – settlements.
In the Zaporizhzhia region.
Near Huliaipole.
Erect and sublime, for one moment of time,
In the next, that wild figure they saw
(As if stung by a spasm) plunge into a chasm,
While they waited and listened in awe.
Had the ‘orcs’ succeeded.
In their plan.
They would have been able to.
Break through the defences.
Of the ‘elves’ fortified sector.
In Orikhiv and.
Advance to.
The immediate approaches.
To Zaporizhzhia.
From the east.
To thwart ‘orcs’ plans.
To thwart ‘orcs’ plans.
The ‘elves’ military command.
Devised and launched.
A counter-offensive operation.
In this sector.
“It’s a Snark!” was the sound that first came to their ears,
And seemed almost too good to be true.
Then followed a torrent of laughter and cheers:
Then the ominous words “It’s a Boo—”
The first phase lasted.
The first phase lasted.
From late January.
To April.
And the second.
And the second.
From 5 May.
To early August.
The operation was.
Carried out by.
Four airborne assault brigades.
And two assault regiments.
Then, silence. Some fancied they heard in the air
A weary and wandering sigh
That sounded like “-jum!” but the others declare
It was only a breeze that went by.
According to the Major General.
The Commander-in-Chief.
Of the Armed Forces.
Of Ukraine.
450 square kilometres.
Of territory.
Were liberated.
Were liberated.
During the first phase of.
the offensive operation.
And 490 square kilometres.
During the second.
They hunted till darkness came on, but they found
Not a button, or feather, or mark,
By which they could tell that they stood on the ground
Where the Baker had met with the Snark.
Overall.
During the offensive.
‘Elves’ forces managed.
To take control of.
745 square kilometres.
And clear around.
300 square kilometres.
Of territory.
In the rear of.
The ‘orcs’-held area of.
Infiltrated ‘orcs’ groups.
According to the ‘elves’ authorities.
In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away—
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.
According to the statement.
26 villages were liberated.
Namely 12.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region.
(Maliivka, Sichneve, Stepove.
Kalynivske, Berezove, Novomykolaivka.
Zaporizhke, Zlagoda, Pryvillia.
Tsehelne, Ternove, Novogeorgiivka).
10 in the Donetsk region.
(Tovste, Novokhatske, Zelenyi Hai.
Zirka, Piddubne, Myrne.
Oleksandrohrad, Hrushevsk.
Yalta, Voskresenka).
And 4 in the Zaporizhzhia region.
(Rybne, Novohryhorivka.
Krasnohirsk, Pryvilne).
“I engage with the Snark—every night after dark—
In a dreamy delirious fight:
I serve it with greens in those shadowy scenes,
And I use it for striking a light:
The operation enabled.
The Defence Forces.
To drive the enemy out.
Of the Dnipropetrovsk region.
(There are no settlements.
Left under their control.
Although a report suggests.
The village of Filiya.
Although a report suggests.
The village of Filiya.
In Dnipropetrovsk region.
Remains in the ‘grey zone’).
“But if ever I meet with a Boojum, that day,
In a moment (of this I am sure),
I shall softly and suddenly vanish away—
And the notion I cannot endure!”
It also neutralized.
The threat of an offensive.
Against Zaporizhzhia along.
The Donetsk–Zaporizhzhia road.
‘Mordor’ has not commented.
On the success of.
The ‘elves’ Armed Forces’ offensive.
In the Oleksandrivka sector.
The Bellman looked uffish, and wrinkled his brow.
“If only you’d spoken before!
It’s excessively awkward to mention it now,
With the Snark, so to speak, at the door!
However, it should be noted.
That the ‘orcs’ Ministry of Defence.
Continued to report.
Continued to report.
On its ‘advances’.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Throughout the spring.
And summer.
“We should all of us grieve, as you well may believe,
If you never were met with again—
But surely, my man, when the voyage began,
You might have suggested it then?
What is more.
On 3 July.
The ministry announced that.
It had captured.
The village of Oleksandrivka.
(which is, in fact.
where the name of.
This sector comes from).
“It’s excessively awkward to mention it now—
As I think I’ve already remarked.”
And the man they called “Hi!” replied, with a sigh,
“I informed you the day we embarked.
To back up its claims.
‘Mordor’ released a video.
Showing a soldier.
Unfurling an ‘orcs’ flag.
On a street.
In the village.
On a street.
In the village.
“You may charge me with murder—or want of sense—
(We are all of us weak at times):
But the slightest approach to a false pretence
Was never among my crimes!
During June and July.
The ‘orcs’ also reported.
Capturing a further number.
Of neighbouring villages.
Namely Pysantsi.
Novoskelevate, Bohodarivka.
Vilne, Khrystoforivka.
Dobropasove and Blahodatne.
“I said it in Hebrew—I said it in Dutch—
I said it in German and Greek:
But I wholly forgot (and it vexes me much)
That English is what you speak!”
Thus, according to.
The Kremlin’s version of events.
It was they who.
Managed to break through.
The ‘elves’ defences.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Rather than.
The ‘elves’ Armed Forces.
Driving them out.
Of these positions.
Driving them out.
Of these positions.
“’Tis a pitiful tale,” said the Bellman, whose face
Had grown longer at every word:
“But, now that you’ve stated the whole of your case,
More debate would be simply absurd.
To put this into context.
These settlements are.
Situated 20–25 km.
From the current front line.
According to the ‘elves’ military.
The enemy does not and.
Has never had control.
Over these villages;
“The rest of my speech” (he explained to his men)
“You shall hear when I’ve leisure to speak it.
But the Snark is at hand, let me tell you again!
‘Tis your glorious duty to seek it!
Instead, it filmed.
Propaganda videos.
Featuring flags.
Featuring flags.
After 1–2 fighters.
Had infiltrated.
The rear of the ‘elves’.
Armed Forces’ positions;
These ‘orcs’ soldiers.
Were subsequently eliminated.
And no consolidation.
Of their presence.
And no consolidation.
Of their presence.
In the area.
Took place.
They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care;
They pursued it with forks and hope;
They threatened its life with a railway-share;
They charmed it with smiles and soap.
The ‘orc’ command was.
Feeding false information.
About its advance.
To its superiors.
Says the Colonel.
The commander of.
The 95th Brigade of the ‘elves’.
Armed Forces’ Airborne Forces.
Who is taking part.
In this offensive.
Who is taking part.
In this offensive.
And the Banker, inspired with a courage so new
It was matter for general remark,
Rushed madly ahead and was lost to their view
In his zeal to discover the Snark
“Many ‘orcs’ commanders.
Misled their senior leadership.
By providing false information.
About their front line.”
“– where it was actually located.
Even when we were already.
Some 20–25 km deep.
Into the ‘orcs’ troops’ defences.”
“Their leadership refused.
To believe it and.
Provided maps which.
We had seized from them…”
“That they were 25 km.
Behind our lines.”
He said in an interview.
But while he was seeking with thimbles and care,
A Bandersnatch swiftly drew nigh
And grabbed at the Banker, who shrieked in despair,
For he knew it was useless to fly.
For their part.
The ‘elves’ command did not.
Disclose details of.
The Defence Forces’ advance.
To the public.
For a long time.
To the public.
For a long time.
He offered large discount—he offered a cheque
(Drawn “to bearer”) for seven-pounds-ten:
But the Bandersnatch merely extended its neck
And grabbed at the Banker again.
Following the first phase.
Of the operation.
In the spring.
In the spring.
Military commanders.
– in particular the commander.
Of the Airborne Forces –
Disclosed only general figures.
Regarding the number of.
Settlements and.
The area of.
The liberated territories.
Without rest or pause—while those frumious jaws
Went savagely snapping around—
He skipped and he hopped, and he floundered and flopped,
Till fainting he fell to the ground.
Thus, the actual location.
Of the line of contact.
Thus, the actual location.
Of the line of contact.
Came as a surprise.
To the ‘orcs’ military.
In this sector.
Says the Colonel.
The Bandersnatch fled as the others appeared
Led on by that fear-stricken yell:
And the Bellman remarked “It is just as I feared!”
And solemnly tolled on his bell.
As an example of this.
He cites a situation.
In which his men.
Were able to kill.
In close combat.
The commander of an ‘orcs’.
Motorised rifle battalion.
Who was inspecting his positions.
He had not expected.
The ‘elves’ army.
To have advanced.
So close to his positions.
He was black in the face, and they scarcely could trace
The least likeness to what he had been:
While so great was his fright that his waistcoat turned white—
A wonderful thing to be seen!
The fact that.
The offensive operation.
Was kept under wraps.
Enabled it to achieve.
Significant results.
In less than half a year.
What exactly were?
These results?
To the horror of all who were present that day,
He uprose in full evening dress,
And with senseless grimaces endeavoured to say
What his tongue could no longer express.
The effective expulsion.
Of ‘orcs’ troops from.
The Dnipropetrovsk region is.
Primarily a political achievement.
From a military perspective.
However, what is.
Important is the ‘elves’.
Armed Forces’ advance.
Towards the supply routes.
Towards the supply routes.
Used by the ‘orcs’ army.
In the south.
Down he sank in a chair—ran his hands through his hair—
And chanted in mimsiest tones
Words whose utter inanity proved his insanity,
While he rattled a couple of bones.
As of 13 August.
‘Elves’ forces are positioned.
3–4 km from.
The Velyka Novosilka–Hulyaypole road.
And are continuing.
To advance in this direction.
Near the villages of.
Uspenivka and Temyrivka.
“Leave him here to his fate—it is getting so late!”
The Bellman exclaimed in a fright.
“We have lost half the day. Any further delay,
And we sha’n’t catch a Snark before night!”
This means that.
This route, which is.
Vital for the logistics.
Of the ‘orcs’ force.
Vital for the logistics.
Of the ‘orcs’ force.
Is no longer secure.
Is no longer secure.
This is forcing the ‘orcs’.
To seek alternative routes.
For transporting food.
Ammunition and personnel.
Particularly near Hulyaypole.
Particularly near Hulyaypole.
Which they captured.
At the end of last year.
They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care;
They pursued it with forks and hope;
They threatened its life with a railway-share;
They charmed it with smiles and soap.
In addition.
The ‘elves’ Armed Forces.
Managed to engage.
The ‘orcs’ in fighting.
For the village of Komar.
Which lies on the banks.
Of the Mokri Yali River.
15 km north of Velyka Novosilka.
They shuddered to think that the chase might fail,
And the Beaver, excited at last,
Went bounding along on the tip of its tail,
For the daylight was nearly past.
The ‘orcs’ captured.
This large settlement.
In late winter 2025.
And turned it into a stronghold.
A military analyst.
Points out that.
‘Elves’ forces need to.
Advance a few more kilometres.
(Approximately 5–6 km.
To the village of Vilne Pole).
In order to get within.
Firing range of Velyka Novosilka.
“There is Thingumbob shouting!” the Bellman said,
“He is shouting like mad, only hark!
He is waving his hands, he is wagging his head,
He has certainly found a Snark!”
“In that case.
In order to achieve.
A significant operational effect.
Across the entire operational zone.”
“Of the ‘orcs’ ‘Vostok’ military group…
The ‘elves’ command will not.
Even need to attack or.
Storm Velyka Novosilka itself.”
They gazed in delight, while the Butcher exclaimed
“He was always a desperate wag!”
They beheld him—their Baker—their hero unnamed—
On the top of a neighbouring crag,
“It is simply a matter.
Of bringing the entire area.
Including the section of.
The Hulyaypole–Velyka Novosilka road.”
“Leading westwards.
Under heavy fire control.
(Including from drones).
The distance of.”
“7.5–7.7 km makes.
It possible to do.
This quite effectively.”
The expert believes.
Erect and sublime, for one moment of time,
In the next, that wild figure they saw
(As if stung by a spasm) plunge into a chasm,
While they waited and listened in awe.
Such an advance.
Would complicate.
‘Orcs’ logistics.
In the south.
Which would affect.
The combat effectiveness.
Of ‘orcs’ Armed Forces units.
And help halt.
And help halt.
Their offensive.
On Orikhiv.
On Orikhiv.
“It’s a Snark!” was the sound that first came to their ears,
And seemed almost too good to be true.
Then followed a torrent of laughter and cheers:
Then the ominous words “It’s a Boo—”
In other words.
To put the enemy.
In a critical position.
The Defence Forces need.
The Defence Forces need.
To continue their offensive.
And make another ‘push’.
Of 5–10 km.
Then, silence. Some fancied they heard in the air
A weary and wandering sigh
That sounded like “-jum!” but the others declare
It was only a breeze that went by.
Whether the ‘elves’ Armed Forces.
Will be able to achieve this.
Will be able to achieve this.
In the near future.
Without redeploying reserves.
Remains to be seen.
Without redeploying reserves.
Remains to be seen.
They hunted till darkness came on, but they found
Not a button, or feather, or mark,
By which they could tell that they stood on the ground
Where the Baker had met with the Snark.
It is also unclear.
Whether the ‘orcs’ command is.
Prepared to redeploy.
Additional forces.
To halt the enemy.
On this front.
Which is clearly not a priority.
For the Kremlin at present.
In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away—
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.
*Because I read “Наступ ЗСУ на Олександрівському напрямку: що про нього відомо і які перспективи(The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ offensive in the Oleksandrivka sector: what is known about it and what are the prospects)” by Oleg Chernysh on 13 Aug 2026 on the BBC news Ukraine, 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 Major General Drapaty, a report of the DeepState map, a story of Colonel Maryshev, and a story of Mashovets, led by ‘The Hunting of the Snark’ written by Lewis Carroll, you know.
Please read the original story on the BBC news Ukraine:
Наступ ЗСУ на Олександрівському напрямку: що про нього відомо і які перспективи – BBC News Україна
