Anna Bowles

Anna Bowles, Kyiv Summer Kyiv Summer July 2022 The guy with donations for Irpin is late.We wait in the shade by the roasting carand observe the sun-cracked playground. A dusty slide and swings, a rocket-shapedclimbing fram…

dodgingtherain.com/2026/02/08/a... I have a poem in Dodging the Rain magazine today.

A bus station at night. Text over photo reads: a glide bomb kissing the ticket office-- Title reads: Bus Station. Bottom text reads: Anna Bowles (C)

Anna Bowles' 'Bus Station' recounts the unrelenting assault which litters the existence of routine affairs during war. @annabowles.bsky.social

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/steve-komarn...

#FeaturedPoem #InkSweatAndTears

How Not To Freeze to Death (Part 1) What are ordinary people around Ukraine doing to survive while Russia tries to freeze them to death, and how can we help?

If you want a first hand view of life in Kyiv the last few days - read @annabowles.bsky.social latest column here:

annabowles.substack.com/p/how-not-to...

A Christmas card with Drakonchik and Los' the Ukrainian moose, who collect second-hand gadgets to be reconditioned for IDPs in Ukraine.

If you are getting a laptop, phone or tablet for Christmas and willing to donate the old one, I’m happy to pay postage from anywhere in the UK to London, providing the item is worth it. All gadgets go to Zaporizhzhia #Ukraine to be reconditioned for use by IDPs, medics or soldiers.

Давайте зіграємо в перемогу!

A paper place mat in the form of a board game called 'Ukrainian Victory'.

Let's play Victory! A nice festive game from the Hryfel' cafe in #Mykolaiv, #Ukraine. annabowles.substack.com/p/lets-play-.... Ukrainian version in first reply.

*fist bump*

I'm deeply impressed by your never having missed a day. I hope you aren't living on Tesco baked beans as a result of this dedication.

Landscape with Mines My first professionally published poetry pamphlet is out today, 2 December. It distils my observations of Ukraine into verse which I hope will stick in people's minds. The perfect Christmas present...

#LandscapewithMines, my book of poetry about volunteering in #Ukraine, is out today from Mica Press! It's available online or direct from the publisher. Or your local bookshop can order it for you.
annabowles.substack.com/p/landscape-...

Landscape with Mines My first professionally published poetry pamphlet is out today, 2 December. It distils my observations of Ukraine into verse which I hope will stick in people's minds. The perfect Christmas present...

More on @annabowles.bsky.social's poetry pamphlet Landscape with Mines, and a poem to share in English and Ukrainian: open.substack.com/pub/annabowl...

Poetry from the Ukrainian front by @annabowles.bsky.social - micapress.uk/product/land...

The (Re)Builder of Sloviansk Sloviansk is under hourly bombardment. Attacks on the power grid mean electricity blackouts can last for days. The Ukrainian army needs all the support we can provide to hold back the Russian advance.

Today's interview is with a local builder in the city of Sloviansk, Donetsk oblast, about the relentless drone, guide bomb and missile attacks people there have to endure, and how they (try to) cope. annabowles.substack.com/p/the-rebuil...

"The heart of Kramatorsk is war" The army keeps Ukraine going, and sometimes civilian volunteers keep the army going. As well as taking me on a supply run to a unit base, Ivanna told me about her absolute dedication to the cause.

With Trump + his spineless followers desperate to give away Donetsk, it's worth remembering the people living there, whose lives will be ripped apart.

Recently @annabowles.bsky.social was in Kramatorsk & told the moving story of volunteer Ivanna. Please read!
annabowles.substack.com/p/the-heart-...

If you think 'giving up territory' to Russia is a neutral compromise, meet one of the ordinary people who would be given up along with it. annabowles.substack.com/p/the-heart-...

Lives Amongst Death Hanna and Lena of the Ceremonial Funeral Home in Dnipro provide their services free for soldiers and victims of the war.

Lives Amongst Death
open.substack.com/pub/annabowl...

Mother Superior Ben Joy Auto Mechanic Nope, that's not an autogenerated secure password. It's a real, amazing USian who empowers young women – the AvtoDivchata, or Car Girls – in east Ukraine.

open.substack.com/pub/annabowl...

@newadrian.bsky.social I haven't seen that interview (more than one?). Please could you link it?

Celebrate the launch of Filly by Rosamund Taylor — Banshee Press We hope you can join us to raise a glass to Filly , the beautiful new verse novel by acclaimed poet Rosamund Taylor, in Books Upstairs on Wednesday 15 October! Banshee poetry editor Jessica…

We hope you can join us for the launch of FILLY by @rosamundtaylor.bsky.social on Wednesday 15 October at @booksupstairs.bsky.social in Dublin! It kicks off at 6pm with Banshee poetry editor @jesstraynor.bsky.social introducing Rosamund. All are welcome! ✨

bansheepress.org/read/celebra...

Life in Occupied Kherson City Lately there's talk about a 'land swap' with Russia. In truth, that means handing over currently free people to torture. Albina lived under occupation for 8.5 months before the liberation of her city.

Life in Occupied Kherson City
open.substack.com/pub/annabowl...

Yes, please don't burn yourself out! You are a unique asset to the Ukraine infosphere.

YouTube video by Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists The conductor changes the way she talks about rhythm by Suzanna Fitzpatrick - 3rd Ironbridge 2025

Honoured to win 3rd prize in the 2025 Ironbridge Comp with Helen Eastman of @livecanon.bsky.social & Sharon Ashton. 2nd prize @annabowles.bsky.social & first prize Chrissy Banks. Thanks to judge Liz Lefroy & @pandemonialists.bsky.social You can hear the poem here: youtu.be/HuHM9LbgSkE?...

Delighted to announce Magma 92 'Ownership' is now published and available to buy on our website.
Edited by @pimlottkathy.bsky.social Danne Jobin and Paul Stephenson.

#magma #poetry
#ownership #magma92
#poetrymagazine
#magmapoetry

Get your hands on a copy here: magmapoetry.com/archive/magm...

Good writing is when Zelensky sits in the US president’s chair at G7 after he left early

Russia is launching up to 500 Iranian Shahed drones per day at #Ukraine. Not a single UK or US jet was sent to help intercept them. But when 100 Shahed drones were launched toward #Israel — for the first time in months — Western fighter jets took off within hours. This isn’t about capability. It’s about will. Ukraine isn’t asking for favors. We’re asking for consistency. If defending non-NATO airspace is possible — why not ours?

A question being asked by Ukrainians.

Today's "Operation Web" which I think is the biggest ever single attack on Russia or its previous incarnation of the Soviet Union, was in the planning for a year + a half.

Pres Zelenskyy is said to have supervised the operation, but the glory belongs to Vasyl Malyuk + his team.

Loving it! As ever, thanks so much for gathering the most valuable and credible snippets together in one thread.

#UAarmy fellas got ⛔🦟🕯️ that were transferred to them by Svitlana.
Svitlana is a #volunteer whose main activity is sewing soft stretchers for transporting the wounded. Now she is looking for a new 🪡🤖. Maybe someone in #Odesa can gift her one in used but in good condition.
#UkrainianView

We are over the moon to share the 13 shortlist poets for the Poetry Wales Award 2024-25, sponsored by Literature Wales and judged by Jeremy Dixon.

You can read the full collection on our website: poetrywales.co.uk/poetry-wales...
Stay tuned for information about our online Awarding Ceremony.

Operation Change In six weeks in Dnipro/Kramatorsk I’ve hardly encountered any other Westerners, but there are a couple of impressive exceptions: one of them is the Swedish group Operation Change.

Another remarkable insight into the work of volunteer groups on the ground in Ukraine, often in very dangerous zones, and the desperate need for more aid of kinds. annabowles.substack.com/p/operation-...

A military chaplain's patch on his sleeve.

#Ukraine An interview with a Ukrainian Army military chaplain in Sloviansk.