The Resilience of Ukrainian Literature: The Story of Volodymyr Vakulenko

A Tale of Resilience: The Story of Volodymyr Vakulenko

In the wake of the Russian invasion, Volodymyr Vakulenko, a celebrated Ukrainian author, faced the grim reality of life under occupation. When Russian forces overtook his village in 2022, he felt the weight of impending doom press upon him. Anticipating that he might soon be arrested, he made a desperate decision: he buried his latest handwritten manuscript beneath a cherry tree in his backyard.

Mr. Vakulenko, renowned in Ukraine for his vibrant and lyrical children’s literature, was not just a passive observer of the chaos around him. As the occupation deepened, and communication with the outside world disintegrated, he poured his frustration and sorrow into his new work. This manuscript took on a darker tone, filled with contemplative and often somber reflections on life under Russian control. He vividly described scenes of neglect as gardens withered, families resorted to cooking over open flames as utilities failed, and even the unsettling sight of some villagers forming uneasy friendships with their occupiers.

Tragically, Mr. Vakulenko’s fears were realized when he was arrested by Russian soldiers. His body was later discovered in a mass grave, a stark reminder of the human cost of war.

Months later, the spirit of his work was revived by fellow Ukrainian writer Viktoria Amelina. Upon hearing of the buried manuscript, she undertook the brave task of excavating it. After writing a poignant foreword, she sent the manuscript to a publisher, hoping to preserve his voice for future generations. However, fate dealt another cruel blow: Viktoria was killed in a missile strike on a pizza restaurant, a place of ordinary life turned into a tragic scene of violence.

In May, the horrors continued as Russian missiles targeted a printing plant in Kharkiv, the very facility that had published Mr. Vakulenko’s work. This devastating attack claimed the lives of seven employees, injured 22 others, and decimated approximately one-third of Ukraine’s overall book-printing capacity.

Despite the immense sorrow intertwined with its creation and publication, the book titled I Transform: A Diary of Occupation and Selected Poems has found its way onto the shelves of Ukrainian bookstores and is available for purchase today. Resurrected from the earth, this book stands as a powerful symbol of the indomitable spirit of Ukrainian literature, a testament to the resilience of a culture striving to endure even as the forces of oppression attempt to extinguish it.