J. K. Rowling wrote to Ukrainian marine who had retold Harry Potter books in Russian captivity

British author J. K. Rowling sent a letter and a personally signed copy of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” to Ukrainian marine Oleksandr Ivanov, who retold the Harry Potter books from memory to fellow prisoners during his time in Russian captivity. The Ukrainian NGO Ukraine WOW reported the news.

The letter and book were presented to Ivanov on July 31 — the birthday of both Rowling and her fictional character Harry Potter.

Ivanov returned to Ukraine during a prisoner exchange on May 15, 2026. Journalist Nataliia Nahorna reported that, while in captivity, he had retold all seven Harry Potter books to other Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Ivanov began serving in the Ukrainian Marines in 2015. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, he defended Mariupol as part of Ukraine’s 36th Separate Marine Brigade. He last contacted his family before his capture on April 12, 2022, following fighting at the Illyich Steel and Iron Works.

The Ukrainian serviceman spent 1,494 days — four years, one month, and three days — in Russian captivity. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation.

“I hear you are a great fan of “Harry’s” and of the comfort the stories gave you during your captivity in Russia. I am so very happy to hear that you have been released and have returned home to Ukraine and wish you a long and happy life going forward,” Rowling wrote.

Ivanov became interested in the Harry Potter books as a child and reread them so many times that he almost memorised them. He had been a long-time fan of the Harry Potter universe before Russia’s full-scale invasion and collected objects and had tattoos connected to the series.

Prisoners of war were forbidden from speaking in Russian captivity, so Ivanov whispered all seven books in the series to his fellow prisoners to prevent the guards from hearing him.

When Ivanov finished telling the story, the other servicemen asked him to begin again. For some prisoners who had never read Harry Potter, his retelling became their first introduction to the complete story.

“When I was in captivity, I could not even imagine that one day I would receive a letter from J.K. Rowling. Her books helped me and my fellow prisoners not to lose hope, and her words became a great source of support for me. I am very happy and immensely grateful. Sincerely yours, ‘the Major Who Lived,’” Ivanov said.

Throughout his captivity, Ivanov’s wife, Nelli, and their son, Demyd, waited for his return. His relatives and friends attended prisoner exchanges carrying objects associated with the Harry Potter world, including a toy owl, a magic wand, socks bearing the words “Dobby is free,” and a poster featuring the exchange, “After all this time?” — “Always.”

Nelli had previously written to Rowling about her husband and explained how the Harry Potter books had supported him in captivity. Ukraine WOW also contacted the author.

“We read about Oleksandr and his love for the Harry Potter universe and immediately understood that we could not remain uninvolved. We wanted the author of Harry Potter to know how her stories had helped a Ukrainian defender and his fellow prisoners endure Russian captivity,” Ukraine WOW co-founders Yaroslava Gres and Yuliia Solovei said.

A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA, the publisher of the Ukrainian translations of the Harry Potter series, also sent Ivanov books that he selected himself.

“The stories about ‘the boy who lived’ helped them not to lose hope even in a place more terrifying than Azkaban,” the publishing house wrote.

As reported earlier, in 2024, Nariman Dzhelyal, Deputy Head of the Mejlis, was returned from Russian captivity.

Images: Ukraine WOW