‘Unwritten’ project: At least 263 literary figures killed in Russia’s War on Ukraine

As of October 2025, more than a decade into Russia’s war against Ukraine, at least 263 members of Ukraine’s literary community — writers, translators, scholars, and others — have been killed by Russian forces. The figures were reported as part of the “Wall of the Unwritten” project, presented at the Ukrainian stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

This year, the Wall of the Unwritten serves as a poignant reminder of the many literary figures lost in the war. Representatives of Ukraine’s literary community are placing the names of those killed by Russian forces on the stand. The project, launched by the “Unwritten” initiative, is supported by Cultural Forces (Kulturni Syly), the Ukrainian Book Institute (UBI), and the OVO Literary Agency.

The project’s creators — Yevhen Lir, a soldier, volunteer, writer, and translator, and Olena Herasymiuk, a paramedic with the volunteer medical battalion Hospitallers and a poet — have collected stories and memories of the deceased authors.

The list includes both renowned writers, such as Hlib Babych, Victoria Amelina, Vasyl Palamarchuk, and Volodymyr Vakulenko, as well as lesser-known authors.

The “Unwritten” initiative seeks to honor each victim and ensure their contributions to Ukrainian culture are not forgotten. The project gathers information on literary figures killed in the war through news reports, social media, and online research. It also aims to expand into a digital memorial platform and to organize events dedicated to honoring Ukraine’s fallen literary figures.

Copy editing: Sheri Liguori