On November 11-13, dozens of warrior-writers met in the center of Kyiv for a three-day mini-residence and held creative meetings with young people. In a special focus – parallels of Ukrainian military literature of this and past wars. This literary and artistic meeting is called “Context: War” and takes place within the Seventh International Forum of Central and Eastern Europe Via Carpatia 2024 – with the support of the Ukrainian Book Institute and the International Renaissance Foundation.
Let’s meet our brave soldiers who, despite their main work on the military front, find time and inspiration for literary creativity.
Andriy Humenyuk
Writer, painter. Originally from Lviv. One of the founders in 1988 of the Lviv Theater named after Les Kurbas, where he worked as a stage designer before the war. He participated in numerous exhibitions of painting and graphics. Participant of the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity. With the beginning of the war in 2014, he became a volunteer, later a paramedic. Since 2016, a fighter of the OUN Volunteer Battalion.
Author of the books “Songs of War” (2018) and “Africa” (2022). “Africa” is a collection of biographical novels-notes about the war. The book also includes the author’s drawings.
“What annoys me the most is when they say: here, the artist took up a weapon in his hands. It is not necessary to make pacifists out of artists! – says Andrii Humenyuk. – In our history, many artists defended their land. We have a great example now, when doctors, computer scientists, and teachers have become warriors. I always say: it doesn’t matter what you do in peacetime, how old you are. If you are a warrior, then you are a warrior.”
Andriy Karpenko
Head of the chaplaincy service of the Central Territorial Administration of the National Guard of Ukraine, lieutenant colonel of the chaplaincy service, archpriest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, poet. In civilian life, he was a theater actor and teacher. Originally from Dnipro.
Father Andriy has been taking care of military personnel since 2014. From the beginning of the Russian invasion, he was an officer in charge of cultural and educational activities and the service of military clergy, he was at the origins of the military chaplaincy service, and in September 2023 he himself became a chaplain.
Member of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine. Andriy Karpenko’s creative output includes two poetry collections: “I live in Paradise” and “Love hardened by war” (2023), three personal photo exhibitions, as well as a passion for embroidery and author’s songs.
“It is in poems that I see the greatest asset of the Ukrainian people, their heritage, because only the word preserves the immortality of the Ukrainian soul,” says Andriy Karpenko. – Sometimes poems are born as an impulse – like a bullet, a shot. The main point is that I write with a pencil, so some pieces are rubbed off, corrected, it’s such a part of the creative process. And sometimes you carry a poem for a very long time. You know the theme, the first lines, and then it falls flat – something is missing, some emotion. You hum as you walk, hum some words, and write down the best ones. That’s the result.”
Bohdan Nazarenko
A poet, by education – a teacher of the history of law. Now he is an officer of the social support department of the Main Directorate of the National Guard of Ukraine.
He was born in Donetsk region. Participant of the Revolution of Dignity. Before the full-scale war, he was the chairman of the Public Council under the KMDA. He was responsible for public relations and the implementation of public control over the actions of the authorities.
The organizer of the “Voice of the Fighting Heart” project – a book of poems by Kyivan soldiers, the author of the collection “Fifteen Months of War” (2023).
“Creativity is precisely one of the mechanisms of social rehabilitation during the war,” says Bohdan Nazarenko. – This is a bridge between the past and the future. It is a bridge between the terrible real present and a peaceful, calm life. We want to be heard. And as long as we live and the heart of each of us beats, we will create and fight for our state.”
Valery Palchyk
Writer, journalist, public figure. He was a participant in the war in Transnistria, the Caucasian wars in UNSO units (on the side of Georgia and Chechnya). Commander of the Poltava regional organization of the UNSO in 1991–1999.
In 1998, he ran for the Verkhovna Rada from the UNA. In the parliament of the 8th convocation, Lyashko Ihori Mosichuk was an assistant at public events to the People’s Deputy from the Radical Party.
After the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war, he took up arms and went to defend his native land. He was wounded in the battles near Mariupol, underwent several operations. After a full-scale invasion, he did not hesitate to defend Ukraine with weapons in hand.
The author of the book “UNSO. The first whistling of bullets” (2019), author and compiler of the collection “Friendship, sealed with blood. UNSO and Georgia” (2023).
Vitaly Zapeka
Warrior, writer, photographer. He is currently undergoing long-term treatment after being wounded by a sniper’s bullet, which he received in the Kurakhiv direction, in the village of Novomykhailivka, Donetsk region,
in April 2024.
Originally from Poltava, he fought in the “Poltava” battalion in 2015-2018. From February 25, 2022, he is at war again. Commander of the RPG branch in the 116th ground defense brigade.
He started writing his first stories and essays in 2015, when he volunteered for the war. The author of the books “Tsutsyk” (2019), “Heroes, heroes and not so much”, (2020), “Absurd” (2021), “Polinka” (2022), “Babach on the whole head” (2022), “Polinka in the country of fools” (2023), “Sausage thief in Paradise” (2024).
He wrote a play based on the novel “Heroes, Heroes and Not So Much”, which premiered in February 2020 at the Dnipro National Theater named after T. G. Shevchenko.
Winner of the “Warrior of Light” Award (2021), the Irina Wilde Award (2021) and the Award named after Vsevoloda Nestayka (2022).
Volodymyr Korotya
Writer, public figure. In civilian life, he was a food technologist, built solar power plants in Ukraine and the European Union. He was a member of the Buchansk City Council.
In 2014, he voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Took part in military operations as part of a reconnaissance platoon of one of the battalions of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade in eastern Ukraine, demobilized in 2016.
During the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he created and led the volunteer company-tactical group “Irpin”, thanks to which, in particular, the Russian invaders failed to break through the defenses in the area of Irpin. Now the commander of the 1st rifle battalion of the 3rd separate assault brigade.
Knight of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III degree (2023), Knight of the Order “For Courage” III degree (2022), Order of “National Hero of Ukraine” (2023), awarded with the medal “For Assistance to Military Intelligence of Ukraine” II degree.
Author of the book “The Adventures of the Phantom” (2020) and the collection of short stories “Thoughts of the Phantom on State Formation” (2022).
Volodymyr Skorostetskyi
Military journalist, poet. A professional military man, he graduated from the Lviv Military Institute in 2001. Since 2014, he has been participating in the war with the Russian invaders. Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A novice writer. Author of poems and short stories on military themes. The heroes of his works are real Ukrainian soldiers. During front-line editorial missions, he works in the trenches and at the combat positions of our troops, where he draws inspiration and plots for his own creativity.
Since 2014, he has been actively supporting the volunteer movement. He shot a series of commercials on how to choose armor, helmets, turnstiles. Organizes first aid courses and helps in every possible way to understand the arrangement of functional volunteer headquarters.
Co-founder of the All-Ukrainian Forum of Military Writers. Due to his initiative, many events of the Forum of Military Authors take place in the environment of cadets.
Iryna Bobyk
Veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, writer. Originally from the village of Ostriv, near Chervonograd in the Lviv region. In civilian life, she worked as the head of a literary circle at the Academy of Arts, as well as a decorator.
In 2017, she joined the volunteer medical organization ASAP RESCUE, worked in the Donetsk region.
In 2019, she signed a contract with the Armed Forces, served in the Royal 24th Brigade, worked as an instructor at Desna. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she participated in the battles for Kyiv. She fought in the 1st OBrSpP named after Ivan Bohun. In June 2024, she was discharged from military service due to family circumstances.
The creative collection includes the electronic collection of short stories “The Artist” (Strelbux publishing house, 2017), the collection of poetry and prose “D’voina” (the “Squirrel” publishing house).
“These texts – both poetry and prose – were born because I simply do not know a more ecological way to live my joys and sorrows. “D’voyina” means “to a warrior”, “warrior girl”, because you are divided into a military and a civilian personality”, Iryna Bobyk admits.
Leonid Matyuhin
Colonel, military journalist. From the first day of the occupation of the Republic of Crimea in 2014 until the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops to the mainland, he was stationed on the territory of the 36th separate coastal defense brigade (“Perevalne” garrison) and constantly informed the Ukrainian and foreign mass media about the situation in the military units.
From 2014 to 2017, he was the spokesman of the ATO.
Originally from Rivne region. He lived and served in the Crimea for a long time.
In 2019, the book “A mother will understand…” was published, which Matyukhin wrote in co-authorship with two more servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yury Golovashenko, a combatant of the mountain assault battalion, and Igor Pidoprihora, an air defense officer. The book reproduces the diary of the Crimean events of 2014.
“You need to write about the war right away, because over time the perspective and feelings change. You need to take notes at the moment when you feel those emotions,” says Leonid Matyuhin.
Mykola Nikolaev
The writer Head of one of the logistics services of the 139th battalion of the 115th separate TRO brigade. He was born in Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region. He served his term of service in Afghanistan. In civilian life, he was an entrepreneur.
Participant of the Revolution of Dignity. He was mobilized to the ranks of the Armed Forces in February 2015. He served in the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, fought in the east and south as a platoon commander and company commander. From 2016, he continued his service under the contract. In 2017, he was transferred to the operational reserve with the rank of captain.
In February 2022, he stood up for the defense of Ukraine in the ranks of the Military Intelligence Service, where he is still serving.
During his military service in 2015-2016, he kept a handwritten diary, which he printed at his own expense in 2019 under the title “Diary of a non-professional soldier”. Realized the entire circulation and released the 2nd edition in 2023. In 2020, he started writing the fiction novel “Predators”, which he planned to publish in 2022. But a full-scale invasion made adjustments, and now we expect an exit next year, in 2025.
Myroslav Otkovich
Journalist, press officer of the 241st brigade of TRO of Kyiv.
In civilian life, he was a presenter and editor on TV channels 1+1, ICTV, NTN, TVi, STB, NTA. Originally from Lviv.
At one time, when Yanukovych came to power, he openly spoke out against censorship in the mass media. What started the “Stop Censorship” movement, which grew into systemic resistance to the authorities of that time.
From the first day of the full-scale invasion, he joined the ranks of the capital’s terror defense. He was a mortar gunner in the mortar battery of the 130th battalion of the 241st TRO brigade. He received a knee injury, during recovery he underwent training and became an officer. He headed the public relations service of the 150th Training Center of the Armed Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, now the press officer of the 241st Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Kyiv.
Plans to organize the first collection of prose and poetry.
“Poems are my reflection, the desire to find myself outside the context in which I am,” says Myroslav Otkovich. – Because if you focus for a long time only on military mundane or non-mundane and experiences, a person stops thinking of himself outside of the war. Poems provide an opportunity to tear yourself out of this context and, at the level of feelings, to feel yourself again as a free, civil person who knows how to be happy. This is another dimension, a space that allows you to detach yourself from the realities of war.”
Oleg Borodai
Poet, novelist, bard musician. He is a teacher by profession. Originally from Myrhorod, Poltava Oblast.
He went to the front as a volunteer in 2014. Still at the front, a soldier of the National Guard of Ukraine.
During the war, he began to write poems and memoirs, which he later printed. Laureate of the festival-competition “Slobozhanskyi Spas” and the competition “From word to word”. Member of the Myrhorod Literary Association “DieSlovo”.
The author of four books published by the Kharkiv publishing house “Maidan”: “Echoes of the trenches” (2018), “Relaxation of the soul” (2021), “Fire shaft” (the first part – in 2022, the second – in 2023).
Oleksandr Prodan
Temporary acting platoon commander, mortar battery in the 219th battalion of the 125th TRO brigade, poet.
In civilian life, he was a sales manager in a furniture company. He joined the army as a volunteer on March 22, 2022 – to the ranks of the Lviv 125th brigade of military personnel. Junior sergeant.
Oleksandr comes from the village of Tomashpil, Vinnytsia region. By education, he is a finance and credit specialist, graduated from the Vinnytsia Educational and Scientific Institute of Economics of the Ternopil National University of Economics.
Author of the collection “Marathon” (2024). He says that he has been writing poems since school. Although there were often periods of breaks of several years. At the beginning of the war, creativity greatly helped the soldier to relieve himself emotionally.
“I mostly write about love,” adds Oleksandr Prodan. – Mostly, my work consisted of poems about unrequited love. Now everything has changed – now it’s just about love. Sometimes there are poems about the war and the world around me. Now I am collecting material for a collection of poems specifically about the war. The next one will be just such a collection.”
Olena Lototska
Writer, senior sergeant, military officer of the Military Law and Order Service.
Originally from Polissia, she lived in Crimea from 1999 to 2014, where she worked in the Yevpatoriya Archive. He is a philologist by education. After the annexation of the peninsula, she left and settled in Lviv. Since 2015 – in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Author of collections of short prose “Now the cuckoo was forging” (2020), “Angels in necklaces” (2023). Actively promotes speech, applied and applied art of his Polissia. Laureate of the Vasyl Skurativskyi, Vasyl Stefanyk, and Ivan Chendey Awards.
“Creativity for me is not entertainment, but the second job after the Armed Forces,” says Olena Lototska. – My writing is not spontaneous, it is a conscious decision that came after a deep analysis of the reasons for the annexation of Crimea. I thought to myself: what did I do to prevent that hunchback from happening? And I understood: nothing personally.”
Olena Mokrenchuk
Major, press officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, journalist, writer. Call sign – “Swallow”.
Mother of four children, grandmother of three grandchildren and a granddaughter. In civilian life, she is a teacher, historian and conductor of a church choir. Originally from Snizhne, Donetsk region.
Participant in hostilities since 2015. She was the press officer of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade, the head of the press center of the Operational Command “North”, the head of the press service of the OTU “North”, an officer of the Department of Public Relations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Has numerous military awards.
Member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine since 2000, National Union of Writers of Ukraine since 2019. The author of the books “Aliska, frontline fox” (2018), “Afinka from “Cuba” (2019), “Wind from the Wild Field” (2023), “Heroes of my country: Mykhailo Drapaty” (2023). Co-author of the National Book of the History of the Holodomor, the series of almanacs “Priazovya: a portrait of a contemporary” and others.
Roman Dronyuk
Author of prose and humorous collections, manager of amateur theater, director and director.
Originally from Pokuttya, from Horodenkiv district, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Prior to the full-scale invasion, he was the head of the Horodenkiv amateur theater “Sveminin”. On stage, he played the roles of OUN leader Stepan Bandera, UPA commander Roman Shukhevych, and reincarnated as other historic characters significant for Ukraine. On March 27, 2022, the premiere of his author’s play “Prytrafunky Uyka Misya” was scheduled.
Despite his visual disability, from the first day of the full-scale war, together with other volunteers, he signed up for the local Teroborona unit. And already on March 4, he found himself in the 17th separate battalion of radio-electronic warfare of the Air Force. Served as a military cook. After a year and a half of service, the veteran returned home.
He created a series of humorous short stories “Prytrafunky Uyko Misya” in the Pokut dialect, which is in great demand among readers, as well as the telegram channel of the same name and the Facebook group “Uyko Misya”. Laureate of the Les Martovych and Pavlo Glazovoi Awards.
Ruslan Leskiv
Warrior, poet. Now he is in the southern direction, he is a MANPADS shooter.
Originally from Stryi region, Lviv region, lived in Stryi for many years. In civilian life, he was a TV operator: he worked for 13 years at the “Lan” shopping center in the city of Stryi.
At the beginning of March 2022, he went to the front. During these almost three years of the great war, he fought mainly in the south of Ukraine, where he still protects our land.
The first tests of the pen were still at school. But he did not return to poetry until 2014. Terrible footage from the destroyed maternity hospital in Mariupol led to the writing of the first poem “Lullaby”, which Ruslan Leskiv dedicated to his son, who at that time was not even three years old. This was the beginning of the warrior’s poetic creativity.
Leskiv is currently working on one poetry collection, “Words of Silence and Thunder”, which was presented in May 2024 (Ukrainian Priority publishing house). Currently, he is working on the second collection of poems.
“To listen to the thunder, one must learn to hear the silence,” says Ruslan Leskiv. – I try to do it every day, every free minute, especially now, when there is a war in Ukraine. When, in addition to physical destruction, silence and coziness are broken by explosions – that state when people feel peace in their souls, in their families, in their homes. I try to appreciate these simple things, realizing how many broken souls, lost families and destroyed houses our land has already seen…”.
Rustam Dmytruk
A poet, a warrior. In civilian life, he was a professional bartender. In February 2022, together with a partner, he planned to open a cocktail bar in the center of Lviv, but a full-scale invasion destroyed these plans.
On February 24, 2022, he went to military service, became a soldier-shooter of the 103rd ground defense brigade. Now he is a senior soldier, the Reb company in the 103rd brigade of military personnel.
In March 2023, the first collection of poems by Rustam Dmytruk “Africa” was published. Takes part in poetic performances, actively participates in literary events, if the operational situation at work allows.
Now the author is preparing material for a new book, and it will be an interesting experience of combining impressions from observations of rear life and life in the war.
“We have to write history in bright colors. Because there is no one to do dark and painful things to us,” Dmytruk says.
Sergey Dzyuba
Writer, screenwriter, author of several television shows. In particular, the screenwriter of the feature films “Callsign Banderas” and “Forbidden”, the documentary film “Life after 16:30”. He is a theater director by profession, worked on television. Born in Kyiv. Since 2009, he held the position of creative producer of the company “Creative Alliance”.
In 2022, he joined the ranks of the Armed Forces. Junior sergeant, serviceman in the 5th assault Kyiv brigade. Awarded the “Iron Cross” medal and the “Honor” medal. Glory. State”. In September 2022, he was wounded in the battle near Horlivka.
Co-author of the books “Callsign Banderas”, “Callsign Banderas. Operation “Tomos”, “Forbidden”.
Serhii Pantyuk
Writer, translator, editor, journalist, public figure and publisher, soldier. Member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (since 1993). Member of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine (since 1997), its secretary (2011–2014).
He worked at the factory, at school – as a teacher of Ukrainian, German, drawing and physical education. Later – in the editorial offices of several newspapers, passing the way from proofreader to editor-in-chief. He founded “Serhiy Pantyuk Publishing House”, which published both poetry collections and historical and journalistic publications.
He participated in the student protest “Revolution on Granite”, the “Ukraine without Kuchma” and “For the Truth” movements. Participant of the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity.
Since 2014, he fought as part of the OUN Volunteer Battalion.
From February 24 to May 12, 2022 – a volunteer of the TRO. From May 13, 2022 – a serviceman of the Armed Forces, chief sergeant of the battery of anti-tank guided missiles of the 23rd OBSP.
Author of 19 poetry collections: “The Sacrament of Communion” (1994), “Shadow of Ariana” (1994), “Temple of Characteristics” (1996), “The Lord of Fire” (2000), “Kiss of Lightning” (2002), “Bosyatsky Kalfa” (2003), “Bosyatsky Kalfa. Selected poems” (2005), “Taste of God” (2009), “Naughty. Poems for Children” (2010), “Solo for Drumba” (2012), “Movyzna” (2014), “Anthracite-Colored Eyes” (2015), “Wounded by a Cherub” (2015), “Nineties. Poem-essay about poets and poetesses” (2016), “Thus Zarathustra was silent. Selected poems” (2017), “About 100 poems. Emotions, States” (2018), “Mushroom Alphabet” (2019), “Emojinarium, or Journey to the World of Feelings” (2020), “The Lost Winter” (2023). As well as prose works: the novel “Seven Days and the Knot of Death” (2007), a collection of short stories “How to tie a knot and smoke” (2009),
the novel “War and We” (2012), the science fiction novel for children “Vinci and Edison”, (2015), the novel for children “Timko and the helgotunchik Skoda”, (2016), the novel for teenagers “It’s not faster”, (2020), the collection of short stories and short stories “The Book on the Road” (2021), the fairy tale for children “Ficus” Benjamin talks about happiness” (2024). Winner of numerous literary awards.
Founder of the All-Ukrainian festival of poetry and author’s song “Under the sign of Aquarius” (1996, since 2000 – “Sliva-fest”, since 2012 – “Cherries”). Co-organizer (with Maksym Rozumny) of the first All-Ukrainian poetry mega-marathon “Cherries”, which lasted from March 1 to April 7, 2012.
The literary and artistic meeting “Context: War” was supported by the Ukrainian Book Institute.
