Face of Kharkiv, 300 books, and journalism: Ukraine announces its program at the Frankfurt Book Fair

Ukraine has announced its program for the Frankfurt Book Fair, where it will be represented by a national stand under the slogan “Reclaiming the Voice.” 

“The voice of Ukraine has been drowned out by Russian imperial cruelty, which prefers uniformity over diversity, violence over dialogue,” wrote Volodymyr Yermolenko, the author of the focal theme concept, philosopher, writer, and head of Ukrainian PEN. “Today, Ukraine is fighting to reclaim its voice. And in doing so, it fights for the rights of the voiceless – for all other nations and groups whose voices have long been ignored.”

The Ukrainian national stand, organized by the Ukrainian Book Institute, will be located in Pavilion 4.1 B64. It will feature over 300 books from 30 publishers and one literary agency. A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA; Klub Simeinoho Dozvillya (KSD); The Old Lion Publishing House; Ranok; Vivat; Nash Format; Projector; ist publishing are among them.

Frankfurt Book Fair holds significant importance for Ukraine, especially in promoting Ukrainian literature translations, according to Oleksandra Koval, Ukrainian Book Institute director. Koval says around 300 Ukrainian translations are published globally each year, yet a notable shortage of translators remains, largely due to Russian language prioritization in Slavic studies departments.

The design of the national stand was inspired by the book DO PO by Pavlo Makov. “This year, Ukraine’s pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair offers discussions and presentations against the backdrop of these poles—between ‘before’ and ‘after’—between two directions into the future, where nuanced conversations unfold and voices can be heard,” explained Borys Filonenko, stand curator and art critic. 

Throughout the five days of the fair, the stage will host discussions, presentations, and public interviews, where participants will talk about art created by war, about fallen writers and the books that preserve their voices, the cultural face of Kharkiv, the work of Ukrainian journalists, and the prose of writers. 

“We wanted to highlight literature that quickly and sharply reflects our wartime reality – journalism and poetry, which are currently flourishing in Ukraine. We also wanted to ensure that the voices of Crimean Tatars are heard more frequently on international platforms,” said co-curator of the Ukrainian program, literary critic, and head of PR at UBI, Tetiana Petrenko. 

Co-curator of the program Maria Shubchyk (Goethe-Institut in Ukraine) is convinced that this year has been exceptionally fruitful for translations of Ukrainian books into German. She believes this reflects the productive collaboration between numerous institutions both in Ukraine and Germany, who have been “tirelessly working since the full-scale invasion by Russia to ensure Ukrainian voices are heard.” 

Among the participants in the Ukrainian program are: 

Sofia Andrukhovych, a Ukrainian writer and translator, author of seven books of prose. Her works have been translated into English, Polish, German, Czech, French, Hungarian, Serbian, and other languages. Her novel Amadoka is announced to be published by Simon & Schuster in 2026.

Mstyslav Chernov, an Associated Press journalist, filmmaker, war correspondent, and novelist known for his coverage of the Revolution of Dignity, War in Donbas, including the downing of flight MH17, Syrian civil war, Battle of Mosul in Iraq, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, including the Siege of Mariupol. His video materials from Mariupol became the basis of the film “20 Days in Mariupol”, which won the Oscar for best documentary.

Tamara Duda, a Ukrainian writer, translator, and volunteer. Her debut novel “Daughter” (2019) won the 2022 Shevchenko National Prize for Literature and was published in English by Mosaic Press publishing house.

Nariman Dzhelyal, a Ukrainian journalist and politician who serves as the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People. A prominent advocate for Crimean Tatar rights, Dzhelyal was illegally detained by Russian occupiers in 2022, highlighting the ongoing struggle for freedom in Crimea.

Pavlo Makov, a renowned Ukrainian artist and a member of the Royal Society of Painters and Graphic Artists of Great Britain and the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine. He is also a Laureate of the Taras Shevchenko National Prize. His installation, “Fountain of Exhaustion,” was featured at the 2022 Venice Biennale.

Tanja Maljarchuk, a Ukrainian-born author who writes in both Ukrainian and German. She won Joseph Conrad-Korzeniowski Literary Award (2013), BBC Ukrainian’s Book of the Year 2016 Award, and the Ingeborg Bachmann Award. Her novel “Forgottenness” was published in English by Liveright Publishing (2024).

Oleksandr Mykhed, a Ukrainian writer, literary scholar, and art curator, currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He has written nine books, most recently “Language of War” (Allen Lane, 2024). He has written for publications including The Financial Times, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and The Guardian. 

The full Ukrainian program in English can be viewed here. Ukraine will be represented at the fair by the Ukrainian Book Institute, Goethe-Institut in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Institute, and Mystetskyi Arsenal. In addition to the national stand, the fair will also feature a stand from Mystetskyi Arsenal, UA Comix, and a separate stand from publisher Oleksandr Savchuk, the winner of the Chytomo award. Mystetskyi Arsenal will participate in the Frankfurt Book Fair with its stand J85 in Hall 3.1 “Art. ArtBooks. Design.” 

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In 2024, the team dedicated it to the concept of “Life on the Edge,” which was the focus theme of the 12th Book Arsenal. 

For the third year in a row, a Special Programme for publishers from Ukraine and neighbouring countries will take place, offering intensive training and networking opportunities for publishers, editors, licensing managers, and literary agents from Ukraine, Armenia, Czechia, Georgia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, and Hungary. The program is co-curated by Mystetskyi Arsenal and sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Culture and Media.

Copy editing: Joy Tataryn

Main image: Pavlo Makov, DO PO