Author: Kurama

“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 […]

Ukraine has repelled. An ‘orcs’ armoured attack. In the north-eastern. Kharkiv region.   After ‘orcs’ forces launched. An incursion across the border. And sought to break through. Defensive lines.   Kharkiv regional head said. ‘Orcs’ reconnaissance groups. Had tried to. Penetrate the border.   Adding that. “Not a single metre has been lost”. Adding that. […]

In the relative privacy. Of the main square. Of Kramatorsk. In eastern Ukraine.   A combat medic thinks. The military has been. Dishonest about. What signing up means.     He argues that. It would be more effective. If recruiters told. New soldiers.   That the first six months. Are “super hard”. But that they […]

Under the rich. Leafy cover of. The ‘elves’ spring. An artillery unit awaits.   Only a fraction. Of their job is. Firing rockets from their. 50-year-old launcher.     Most of their time. Is spent digging. A new bunker. Into the hillside.   They’re outgunned. And outmanned. By the ‘orcs’ invaders. Who are inching closer. […]

She’s learnt to. Trust her instincts. It’s why when. ‘Orcs’ forces entered.   Her home village of Ocheretyne. In eastern Ukraine. She and her family. Decided it was time to go.   However, under heavy shelling. She soon became separated. From her relatives. So she started walking.   So she started walking. West in her […]

Under war-time. Government rules. No man aged between. 18 and 60 can leave Ukraine.   Without special permission. From the authorities. Under war-time. Government rules.   Those rules could change. If Ukraine suddenly. Needs more men. Those rules could change.   ‘Orcs’ war is opening. A gender divide. In ‘elves’ society. She fled west.   […]