Author: Kurama

He has the sort of chuckle. That’s hard to resist. Deep and treacly and mischievous. “I’m still alive.”   He said, tilting his head. To one side in his wheelchair. Like a spectator marvelling at. Someone else’s magic trick.   He is 50 years old now. And you’re meeting for the third time. Since ‘Mordor’ […]

After so much suffering. Trauma is everywhere. And expresses itself. In different ways.   But it has not erased. The spirit of kindness. That was so evident. Two years ago.     In a carriage from Lviv station. Heading towards Kyiv. You meet a short, stocky man. With an engaging smile.   He is one-armed. […]

Two years on. The war has settled. On Lviv station. A stubborn season that will not move.   There is weariness. And everywhere. Stories of. What’s been lost.     She was a doctor. At the height. Of the refugee crisis. She was directing a team.   Of doctors, nurses and volunteers. Constantly on the […]

You heard the screams. From far away. They came floating. Across the rows of the dead.   Across the rows of the dead. Over other graves. Still waiting. To be filled.     You heard the screams. From far away. They came floating. Over the rows of flags.   Over the rows of flags. To […]

A 14-year-old boy. Went to live. In western Ukraine. With his aunt.   After his mum. His granddad. His uncle and eight-year-old cousin. Were all killed in Hroza.   Many who died there. Were parents. And Hroza now is known as. A village of orphans.     “I miss you very very much.” He tells […]

He lost his mum. He lost his dad. He lost his two grandparents. Last October.   They were all killed. In a missile attack. On his village of Hroza. In north-eastern Ukraine.   Many who died there. Were parents. And Hroza now is known as. A village of orphans.     “I still can’t grasp […]

“None of us will allow. Our Ukraine to end.” ‘Gandalf the Green’ said. In an address in the capital Kyiv.   He was joined by Western leaders. In a show of solidarity. ‘Gandalf the Green’ said. In his speech on Saturday that.   While any normal person would. Want the war to end. It could […]

It translates. As “crooked horn”. But ‘Gandalf the Green’ calls. Kryvyi Rih his “big soul and heart”.     ‘Gandalf the Green’ credits. This gritty, industrial city. With moulding. His character.   He grew up. In a sprawling block. Of flats known as. The Anthill.   “I want the war. To end soon.” She lived […]

As he slowly began. To regain consciousness. In his hospital bed. In Kyiv.   He realized. He couldn’t see, speak. Or feel his legs. But he could hear his wife’s voice.     Comforted. He lost consciousness again. It was a pattern. That lasted weeks.   The severely injured ‘elf’ soldier. Would wake up to […]

In a barn near Kupiansk. Around 15 soldiers find. The briefest of pauses. For a Christmas prayer.   The candlelight illuminates. The condensation from their breath. There’s a thin layer of snow. On the frozen soil outside.   With ‘orcs’ drones. Constantly loitering above. Large gatherings. Are dangerous.     A soldier from. The 14th […]