Author: Kurama

The country’s blue-and-yellow national flag. On destroyed buildings in Neskuchne. The loud booming sound of. Nearby shelling can also be heard.   Earlier this week. A video emerged. Purportedly showing. Two ‘elves’ soldiers raising it.     Out of this cluster of four. Settlements in the eastern Donetsk region. Neskuchne has seen. The heaviest fighting. […]

The ‘elves’ flag is placed. On a building in Blahodatne. One of the villages Ukraine says. It has recaptured from ‘Mordor’.   Troops are launching. Probing attacks. While most of ‘elves’ forces are. Being held in reserve.   Waiting for a big enough opening. In ‘orcs’ defences. To launch a main attack. And try to […]

They had been stranded. In ‘orcs’-occupied Ukraine. Their village of Kardashynka. Is an innocuous place.   A quaint collection of houses. In the marshy lowlands. Of the Dnipro River’s eastern bank. Under ‘orcs’ occupation.   Even with the liberation. Of Kherson city last November. The neighbours hadn’t been able to. Cross the river to go […]

“It was stunningly beautiful. The local authorities took good care. Of roads and pavements. This may not be such a big deal for Europe.”   “But for us it was unusual. They had built a marvellous stadium. And refurbished. Our college, lavishly.”   “New, very good. Musical instruments were bought.” Her college hosted piano competitions. […]

Residents of Bakhmut describe. The city before the war. As cosy and comfortable. To live in.   The eastern ‘elves’ town of Bakhmut is now. Known across the world as the site. Of the longest and possibly bloodiest battle. In ‘Mordor’’s war on Ukraine.   It is now almost completely destroyed. And almost all of […]

To the last stop. Before the eastern front line. Yes, there are soldiers. Most look out of the window.   But there are also young families. On their way back home. This isn’t just a route. To the battlefield.     At the train station. In the eastern ‘elves’ city of Dnipro. Attendants in smart, […]

“The moment I saw my child. Running towards me in tears. It made up for everything. We’d been through.”   She described her reunion. At last, with her son. Her son says. It was “just brilliant!”     For six months. She felt like. Part of herself. Was missing.   When she packed her 13-year-old […]

He was among 13 children. Taken from their own school in Kupyansk. North-eastern Ukraine last September. By armed ‘orcs’ soldiers in balaclavas.   Ushered onto a bus. With shouts of ‘Quickly!’ The children then disappeared. For weeks without trace.     The children who all. Have special educational needs. Were finally allowed. To call home. […]

‘Mordor’’s anthem. Booms through loudspeakers. And the tricolour flag. Is unfurled.   But look a little closer. And it’s clear that. None of the children’s lips. Are moving.   The camera operator. Suddenly realizes that. One girl has her hands. Over her ears.   To block out the sound. One girl has her hands. Over […]

She was getting dressed. To leave their house. When “both doors were smashed out. By the explosion wave”.   “I ran outside. And saw that the garage was destroyed. Everything was on fire. Glass shards everywhere.”   “Had we been outside. We would have been killed.” Pictures posted on social media. Showed a massive blaze. […]