“Words and Bullets” presented at Ireland’s oldest Literary Festival

A collection of interviews with Ukrainian writers and journalists who have became soldiers and volunteers during the Russo-Ukrainian War, “Words and Bullets,” was presented to an Irish audience at the Listowel Writers’ Week.

A presentation started with the screening of a short documentary, “Culture vs. War: Serhiy Zhadan,” about Ukrainian writer, musician, and public figure Serhiy Zhadan, who became actively involved in volunteer movements following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. He later enlisted in the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, also known as Khartia, as a soldier.

Serhiy Zhadan wrote the foreword to “Words and Bullets,” where he described the wartime changes faced by Ukrainians.

“Conversations about war are conversations about abnormality. War is fundamentally a state of complete abnormality, distortion, and brokenness. Therefore, discussions about it go beyond usual intonations, expected questions, and predictable answers. Because the people being asked have truly changed significantly,” he wrote.

During the presentation, project coordinator and interviewer Natalya Korniyenko shared the story of the book, including the fates of some of its featured characters: writer and Russian war crimes researcher Victoria Amelina, poet and soldier Maksym Kryvtsov, and cultural journalist Alla Pushkarchuk — all of whom were killed by Russia.

“It was important for me to show the human dimension of this war through the stories of those who exchanged their work with words for a fight against the enemy. Those who never questioned the validity of their decision, even for a split second, and who made the ultimate sacrifice for our liberty — their lives,” Korniyenko explained.

Referring to Victoria Amelina’s last work, “Looking at Women, Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary,” which was published recently in the USA and United Kingdom, she emphasized the importance of documenting Russian war crimes and holding Russians accountable in the future.

“If we win but fail to prove the war crimes and punish those responsible, this story will remain unfinished,” Amelina said in her interview for “Words and Bullets.”

Korniyenko also mentioned the Russian missile attack on the “Factor Druk” printing house in May 2024 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, during which the entire first print run of the book “Words and Bullets” was destroyed.

She explained that the destruction of Ukrainian culture is part of Russia’s centuries-long effort to erase Ukrainian identity.

“Bans on the Ukrainian language, closures of Ukrainian schools and churches, book burnings, terror against the intelligentsia — this is what Russia has systematically carried out against Ukraine since the 17th century. The current war is not just about territorial conquest. It is about trying to destroy Ukrainian statehood and wipe the Ukrainian nation, its language, and culture of the earth,” Natalya said.

Listowel Writers’ Week is Ireland’s oldest literary and arts festival, which promotes writing of all genres and creates an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible audience — where writers and readers gather to celebrate the written word together. At the heart of an annual celebration is a commitment to developing and promoting writing talent, showcasing works through literary panel discussions, moderated talks, poetry readings, interviews, cultural tours, walks, and more.

“Words and Bullets” is a collection of conversations between journalist Natalya Korniyenko and Ukrainian writers and journalists who have enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine or been engaged in active volunteer work to supply the army. It’s a joint project of Ukrainian cultural media “Chytomo,” PEN Ukraine, and “Vivat Publishing,” with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The book includes 24 interviews with Artem Chapeye, Andrii Lyubka, Yaryna Chornohuz, Oleksandr Mykhed, Victoria Amelina, Maksym Kryvtsov, and others. For the interview with Maksym Kryvtsov, Natalya was shortlisted for the “Professional Honor” Ukrainian Journalism Award. PEN Ukraine included the book “Words and Bullets” in their list of The best books published in Ukraine in 2024.

RELATED: Dublin Book Fair’s panel on Ukrainian culture: A vital discussion on preserving heritage and identity under siege

Images: Olga Derevyanko

Copy Editing: Terra Friedman King