Novel exploring Russia-Ukraine war wins Polish competition

Polish-Silesian writer Szczepan Twardoch received the Empik Bestsells 2025 award in the Fiction category for his novel “Null” (Zero), about the Russia-Ukraine war. 

The Empik Bestsellers award is presented to authors and musicians whose books and recordings achieved the highest sales in Empik stores across Poland throughout the year.

During the award ceremony, Twardoch said, “First of all, I would like to thank my readers who have read and continue to read this complex and joyless book. To me, this is evidence of the strength of the written word and confirmation that my work as a writer carries meaning.”

The plot of “Null” is based on the author’s personal experiences. After the outbreak of the full-scale Russian invasion, Twardoch repeatedly traveled to Ukraine with humanitarian aid and stayed near the front line.

The story follows a 43-year-old Polish historian known by the call sign Koń who travels to the Ukrainian front at the start of the full-scale invasion. The events focus on his daily experiences, time on the front lines, and encounters with soldiers.

In February 2025, the book was published by Marginesy. Its German translation appeared in April of the same year, published by Rowohlt. In November, translations into Slovak (published by Absynt) and Belarusian (published by Yanushkevich) were added. Work on the Ukrainian translation of the novel is ongoing. The book is available in Polish at the library of the Polish Institute in Kyiv, where visitors are welcome on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 7 p.m.

Szczepan Twardoch is a Polish writer and columnist widely regarded as one of the leading voices in contemporary Polish literature. He began his literary career publishing in several Polish periodicals before releasing novels that became popular both in Poland and internationally.

In Ukraine, Twardoch’s books are published by Fabula and translated into Ukrainian by Ostap Ukrainets: “Morfina” (Morphine), “Król” (The King), and “Pokora” (Submission); and by Natalia Danyluk: “Chołod” (The Cold).

In 2024, Twardoch received the Stand with Ukraine prize for his support of Ukraine. Since the first days of the full-scale invasion, he has supported Ukrainians through humanitarian and volunteer efforts, organizing charity collections and personally delivering drones, vehicles, and equipment to Ukrainian defenders on the front lines. In 2024, he refused to allow his novel “Król” to be published in Russia until the end of the war in Ukraine.

“Null” was named the best book of 2025 in a reader vote conducted by Gazeta Wyborcza.

RELATED: Polish-Silesian bestselling writer refused to allow his works to be published in Russia

Main image: screenshot from the series based on the novel The King

Copy editing: Sheri Liguori