Kurama (Japan). «Poets at gunpoint​​» — a poem about a situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (the russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022)

 

 

 

Kurama
(Japan)

POETS AT GUNPOINT

“We can professionally.

Control the ‘Ring’.

But we are helpless in the face.

Of people's irresponsibility and madness.”

On Independence Day.

On that Wednesday.

An extensive fire burning.

In the immediate vicinity of the ‘Ring’ in Zaporizhzhia.

On Knowledge Day.

On that Thursday.

“We are not going anywhere.

‘The Fellowship’ is now there, at the ‘Ring’.”

A letter signed by dozens of employees.

At the ‘Ring’ on 18 Aug.

Called on the international community.

To stop and think:

“We can professionally.

Control the ‘Ring’.

But we are helpless in the face.

Of people's irresponsibility and madness.”

One of ‘the Fellowship of the Ring’.

Earlier called for.

Fighting near the ‘Ring’ to stop.

In a strongly-worded statement:

“It's time to stop playing with fire.

And instead take concrete measures.

To protect this ‘Ring’ and others like it.

From military operations.”

“The slightest miscalculation.

Could trigger devastation.

That we will regret.

For decades.”

“We can professionally.

Control the ‘Ring’.

But we are helpless in the face.

Of people's irresponsibility and madness.”

The ‘Ring’ lies on the southern bank.

Of the River Dnieper.

Across the water from ‘elves’-held towns.

And military positions.

Ukraine's biggest ‘Ring’.

And Europe's biggest ‘Ring’.

Has come under repeated fire.

Since occupied by ‘orcs’ at the start of the war.

She has worked at the ‘Ring’.

For many years.

“My working day is a constant stress.”

“I can't work like I used to.”

“The last week.

I haven't even been able to.

Come to my workplace.

It's dangerous.”

“On Saturday.

There was shelling.

Of the nitrogen-oxygen station.

Which caused a fire.”

“By some miracle.

The people working there survived.”

The picture is murky.

But the risks are crystal clear.

She says shells have been landing.

Close to it every day.

“The psychological situation is difficult.”

“Soldiers are walking everywhere with weapons.”

“And everyone is actually kept.

At gunpoint.”

‘Mordor’ is accused of basing.

About 500 soldiers there.

She is in no doubt.

It's being used as a base.

“Every day they drive back and forth.

In their military vehicles.”

“They positioned their military equipment.

Right at the station buildings.

To make it impossible.

For ‘elves’ armed forces to strike.”

Another worker says:

“The staff are now hostages of ‘orcs’.”

“They turned off the internet.

Left only landline phones.”

“And food is available.

Only in one single dining room.

They turned the others.

Into their bases.”

“Access to all roofs is prohibited.

‘Orcs’ made their observation points there.

The training building also became.

Their barracks.”

“Now, more and more often.

Staff are kidnapped.

Just when leaving the shift.

At the security gate.”

Those two workers also describe.

Rubbish being left everywhere by ‘orcs’.

But they say staff are still able to.

Monitor the reactor properly.

“We can professionally.

Control the ‘Ring’.

But we are helpless in the face.

Of people's irresponsibility and madness.”

On Independence Day.

On that Wednesday.

An extensive fire burning.

In the immediate vicinity of the ‘Ring’ in Zaporizhzhia.

On the next day.

Of that Wednesday.

Europe was “one step away”.

From a radiation disaster.

The ‘Ring’ was briefly disconnected.

From Ukraine's power grid.

And back-up generators kicked in.

To supply it with power.

‘Gandalf the Green’ said.

Fires had damaged the overhead power lines.

Cutting the ‘Ring’ off.

For the first time in its history.

The mayor of Energodar.

Claimed on the same day.

That the city had no power.

Or water at all.

And there were also reports.

Of power cuts.

In the ‘orcs’-occupied cities.

Of Melitopol and Kherson.

“Almost every day.

There is a new incident.

At or near the ‘Ring’ in Zaporizhzhia.

We can't afford to lose any more time.”

A team’s head said.

Repeating his call.

To lead an international mission.

To the ‘Ring’ in the next few days.

At the heart of this crisis are.

The ‘Ring’’s original staff.

Working under ‘orcs’ occupation.

And under a great deal of stress.

“We can professionally.

Control the ‘Ring’.

But we are helpless in the face.

Of people's irresponsibility and madness.”

On Knowledge Day.

On that Thursday.

“We are not going anywhere.

‘The Fellowship’ is now there, at the ‘Ring’.”

‘Mordor’ said up to 60.

‘Elves’ “saboteurs” were killed.

Who attempted to recapture the ‘Ring’.

By crossing the river on that Thursday morning.

The gravest risks would come.

As the convoy of armoured vehicles crossed.

The cratered fields of the “grey zone”.

Where neither side’s military has control.

“Weighing up the pros and cons.

And having come so far.

We are not stopping.”

After weeks of trying, he led a team.

He also wanted to “speak candidly”.

With staff who have described being kept at gunpoint.

And seeing colleagues kidnapped.

On an almost daily basis.

He wanted to establish.

What it is like for them to work there.

How much freedom they have.

And what exactly are the stress levels they are dealing with.

After fresh shelling.

Waiting for the situation to become safer.

The convoy stopped at an ‘elves’ checkpoint.

Around 20km from the front line.

Armoured cars made their way to the ‘Ring’.

They were delayed for three hours.

It was one of the most difficult missions.

In the history of ‘the Fellowship’.

“We must protect the safety and security.

Of Ukraine's and Europe's biggest ‘Ring’.”

An hour before the team's arrival.

Shell-fire was heard in Energodar.

He led a team to the ‘Ring’ in Zaporizhzhia.

Where ‘elves’ staff have worked.

In highly challenging conditions.

For almost six months.

Shelling continued.

While the 14-strong team visited the ‘Ring’.

He warned of a very real risk.

Of nuclear disaster.

The team was “able to put together.

A lot of information”.

“The key things I needed to see I saw.

And the explanations were very clear.”

The team spent a few hours.

At the ‘Ring’ in Zaporizhzhia.

After a long and tense journey.

Then four of the nine vehicles left the ‘Ring’.

Although most of the team left the ‘Ring’.

After two days.

Two of its officials would remain there.

On a permanent basis.

“We can professionally.

Control the ‘Ring’.

But we are helpless in the face.

Of people's irresponsibility and madness.”

On Knowledge Day.

On that Thursday.

“We are not going anywhere.

‘The Fellowship’ is now there, at the ‘Ring’.”

‘The Fellowship’’s report.

On Tuesday.

Highlighted the “extremely stressful conditions”.

Facing the 907 ‘elves’ staff working there.

It said the depleted staff.

Should be entitled.

To family support.

And an appropriate work environment.

It said its presence at the ‘Ring’ was.

A “game-changer”.

As it had received fast and reliable information.

About the latest development.

It added, saying all relevant parties.

Would have to agree to.

A “nuclear safety and security protection zone”.

Being set up to avoid further damage.

An emergency meeting was held.

Among ‘the Fellowship of the Ring’.

After the publication of Tuesday’s report.

To discuss the situation in Zaporizhzhia.

“As a first step.

‘Orcs’ and ‘elves’ forces must commit.

Not to engage in any military activity.

Towards the ‘Ring’ or from the ‘Ring’”.

‘The Fellowship’ have recommended that.

A security zone be set up immediately.

To shield the ‘Ring’ from the fighting.

Shelling must end immediately.

‘Gandalf the Green’ said.

He would support the safety zone.

If it aimed to demilitarize.

The territory of the ‘Ring’.

‘Gandalf the Green’ said.

The report noted.

The presence of ‘orcs’ military hardware.

On the territory of the ‘Ring’.

And the report referred.

To pressure on employee.

Alongside “clear references.

To ‘orcs’ military occupation”.

“We can professionally.

Control the ‘Ring’.

But we are helpless in the face.

Of people's irresponsibility and madness.”

On Knowledge Day.

On that Thursday.

“We are not going anywhere.

‘The Fellowship’ is now there, at the ‘Ring’.”

‘The Fellowship’’s report.

On Tuesday.

Highlighted the “extremely stressful conditions”.

Facing the 907 ‘elves’ staff working there.

10 days later.

On Friday.

He had learnt from his staff.

Who are still at the ‘Ring’.

A “serious situation” had developed overnight.

Power to the city of Energodar.

Home to most of the ‘Ring’ operators and their families.

Had been “destroyed by shelling”.

This has led to.

A “complete power blackout in Energodar:

No running water.

No power, no sewage”.

“Given the increased.

And continued shelling.

There is little likelihood.

Of re-establishing reliable offsite power.”

The “increasingly dire circumstances”.

In Energodar.

Could also impact essential staffing.

At the ‘Ring’ in Zaporizhzhia.

On Saturday.

On the next day.

Monitoring the situation.

His staff at the ‘Ring’ learnt.

One of the four main external power lines.

Damaged by shelling had been repaired.

Allowing electricity to be received directly.

From the national grid once again.

On Sunday night.

A rocket landed.

300m from nuclear reactors.

At the Ukraine’s second-largest ‘Ring’ in Mykolaiv region.

“We can professionally.

Control the ‘Ring’.

But we are helpless in the face.

Of people's irresponsibility and madness.”

On Independence Day.

On that Wednesday.

An extensive fire burning.

In the immediate vicinity of the ‘Ring’ in Zaporizhzhia.

On Knowledge Day.

On that Thursday.

“We are not going anywhere.

‘The Fellowship’ is now there, at the ‘Ring’.”

A letter signed by dozens of employees.

At the ‘Ring’ on 18 Aug.

Called on the international community.

To stop and think:

“We can professionally.

Control the ‘Ring’.

But we are helpless in the face.

Of people's irresponsibility and madness.”