Author: Kurama

She shows you. Purple crocuses. And bluebells. In neat rows.   And the green shoots. Of daffodils. Then she leads you. Past the porch.   Where her husband was shot. Through a wooden gate. Onto the plot of land. Where she buried him.   “Look how many. Tulips are coming out!” She points towards the […]

There are few places. From where you can see. ‘Orcs’-occupied territory. With the naked eye in Ukraine.   The western bank. Of the Dnipro river. In the city of Kherson. Is one of them.   You can’t see. The ‘orcs’ troops on the other. Low, marshy riverbank. But you know they’re there.   On the […]

There are few places. From where you can see. ‘Orcs’-occupied territory. With the naked eye in Ukraine.   The western bank. Of the Dnipro river. In the city of Kherson. Is one of them.   You can’t see. The ‘orcs’ troops on the other. Low, marshy riverbank. But you know they’re there.   In a […]

There are few places. From where you can see. ‘Orcs’-occupied territory. With the naked eye in Ukraine.   The western bank. Of the Dnipro river. In the city of Kherson. Is one of them.   You can’t see. The ‘orcs’ troops on the other. Low, marshy riverbank. But you know they’re there.   Incoming artillery […]

“But maybe being. Enslaved by ‘Mordor’. Is more frightening? Now we see death.”   “It’s very difficult. Very difficult. But there is no way back. We can’t give up.”     On the edge of Cherkasy. There is a cemetery. With a long line. Of recent graves.   They’re for the men. Of all ages. […]

“But while he is in hospital. I can sleep calmly. I can’t sleep. When he is on the front line.”   “So I am glad. My son is in hospital now. Although I really shouldn’t say this. I’m glad he’s not at the front.”     Away from. The eastern front line. There are signs […]

He is a conscription officer. Looking for. Soldiers for. ‘Elves’ army.   But almost two years. Into ‘orcs’ full-scale invasion. There’s no flood of volunteers. To the front line anymore.     When he and his patrol hit. The streets of Cherkasy. Men often swerve. To avoid them.   Most of those. Who wanted to […]

The sun sets on Kharkiv. And much of the city. Remains dark. As residents conserve power.   The timings can slip. “They were supposed. To cut the power. To my area at 09:00.”   “So I got up. Especially early. To charge everything.” A friend messaged.   “Then I got in the lift. And got […]

“I had a hunch. That someone was. Watching me. My heart was pounding.”   Agent One. Takes photos. As he crouches down. In some bushes.   “For probably two weeks. I planned in my head. How and what. I would do.”   “Planned the route. The main backup. What I should say. In case I […]

So she and her husband. Gave up everything. They handed their home. Of 53 years to a neighbour.   So she and her husband. Gave up everything. They left their ducks. Chickens and dogs.     It’s not only. The fighting that. Families are fleeing. In Sumy.   The northern region has. The only working […]