Kate Tsurkan

Cover reveal!

The English translation of Khrystia Vengryniuk's debut novel, originally published in Ukraine in 2013, willl be released by Sandorf Passage this November.

Cover design by Anastasiia Starko.

One of my favorite novels. A total fever dream.

We'll share the pre-order link soon.

Cover reveal!

The English translation of Khrystia Vengryniuk's debut novel, originally published in Ukraine in 2013, willl be released by Sandorf Passage this November.

Cover design by Anastasiia Starko.

One of my favorite novels. A total fever dream.

We'll share the pre-order link soon.

‘A cult of death’ — Former Soviet dissident on Russia and authoritarianism's global rise In an authoritarian society, it’s free thinkers who are targeted by those in power. A book, a social media post, a private conversation — anything can be used against those who refuse to conform in a ...

Few understand this reality better than Igor Pomerantsev, a veteran radio broadcaster, poet, and former Soviet dissident. @katetsurkan.bsky.social
kyivindependent.com/a-cult-of-de...

I can’t believe how stupid everything is

Bringing art to the cemetery — How 'The Invisible Gallery' reclaims legacy overshadowed by Russian imperialism In Ukraine's cemeteries, some graves are more than symbols of memory. They hold the truth about the country's enduring place in European culture, testifying to centuries of creative achievement and in...

I wrote about the Invisible Gallery Project which aims to highlight Ukrainian artists overshadowed by a legacy of Russian imperialism. An ongoing project worth following. My latest for @kyivindependent.com.

kyivindependent.com/ukraines-art...

Rediscovering Ukraine’s literary heritage: Ukrainian Institute and Kyiv Independent launch 'The Hidden Canon' At the initiative of the Ukrainian Institute, the Kyiv Independent announces the launch of "The Hidden Canon: Ukraine's Literary Iconoclasts," a new series celebrating Ukrainian classic literature wit...

The Ukrainian Institute and @kyivindependent.com have teamed up to popularize Ukrainian classics! Read more at the press release.

kyivindependent.com/rediscoverin...

In the middle of war, Ukraine's top university reimagines Russian Studies Eleven years into Russia’s war, a Ukrainian university is forging ahead with an unexpected academic pursuit: launching a Russian Studies program to study the country that had imposed itself on Ukraine...

I reported on Kyiv-Mohyla Academy’s new Russian Studies certificate program and why it matters—for Ukraine’s future specialists and for rethinking Russian Studies abroad. My latest for @kyivindependent.com.

kyivindependent.com/in-the-middl...

The greatest motivation is when your dear friend, a far more accomplished writer, reads the start of your novel and christens it "an insane fever dream," only to add "but keep leaning into it, it works."

Slavoj Žižek: There is no humanity without our small, everyday, seemingly meaningless rituals Exclusive! From Maternal Tyranny to Collective Spiritual Suicide: Žižek on AI, Europe, and Our Growing Unwillingness to Face Reality

Reunited with Slavoj Žižek to talk about everything from maternal tyranny to collective spiritual suicide. Check out our wide-ranging conversation at the Daily Humanity Dispatch.

dailyhumanitydispatch.substack.com/p/slavoj-ziz...

The Soviets tried to silence Ukrainian poet Vasyl Stus. A new exhibition honors his legacy While the Soviet authorities promoted their vision of ideological "universalism" — a homogenized identity that suppressed national cultures — dissenting voices were silenced through arrests, intimidat...

My article for @kyivindependent.com on the wonderful ongoing Vasyl Stus exhibition at Mystetskyi Arsenal.

With thanks to the curatorial project manager, Yulia Naidukh, and Dmytro Stus, Vasyl's son, for their comments.

kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-po...

Slavoj Žižek: There is no humanity without our small, everyday, seemingly meaningless rituals Exclusive! From Maternal Tyranny to Collective Spiritual Suicide: Žižek on AI, Europe, and Our Growing Unwillingness to Face Reality

Reunited with Slavoj Žižek to talk about everything from maternal tyranny to collective spiritual suicide. Check out our wide-ranging conversation at the Daily Humanity Dispatch.

dailyhumanitydispatch.substack.com/p/slavoj-ziz...

Finally, my translator’s copies of Khrystia Vengryniuk’s LONG EYES have arrived in Ukraine. 👁️ 👄 👁️

She’s melancholic, she’s beautiful, she’s everything you didn’t know you needed.

Order your copy here: losthorsepress.org/catalog/long...

'Bring Ukraine more weapons' — author Andriy Lyubka on cultural diplomacy's main wartime role When the full-scale invasion began, Andriy Lyubka struggled to write. A celebrated Ukrainian writer and translator, he turned instead to fundraising, logistics, and delivering used cars to the front f...

My interview with the always great Andriy Lyubka about returning to fiction writing, why Ukrainian books deserve less sad endings, and how a writer's responsibility changes during war. My latest for @kyivindependent.com.

kyivindependent.com/bring-ukrain...

New book exposes Russia’s ecocide as a war against Ukraine’s land – and memory When Russia destroyed Ukraine’s Kakhovka Hydroelectric Dam in June 2023, unleashing catastrophic floods across the country’s south, it seemed like such a blatant act of environmental and humanitarian ...

I reviewed Darya Tsymbalyuk's soul-crushing yet vital book "Ecocide in Ukraine," my latest for @kyivindependent.com.

kyivindependent.com/new-book-exp...

One of the greatest 20th century Ukrainian novels, now in English translation Overwhelmed by the buzzing nightlife of Khreshchatyk Street in central Kyiv, Stepan Radchenko, the despondent protagonist of Valerian Pidmohylnyi’s novel “The City,” looks up at the moon for solace an...

Valerian Pidmohylnyi’s “The City” now has a fresh new English translation. I reviewed this masterpiece of 20th century literature for @kyivindependent.com.

He could have written more great novels if he hadn’t been executed in Russia in 1937…

kyivindependent.com/one-of-the-g...

La Piccioletta Barca | Iron-jawed beasts - by Kate Tsurkan In the hush of the grass, they coil and keep watch. Before, I would slip through the ...

A short prose piece I wrote after Russian drones and missiles targeted my Chernivtsi—many thanks to the editors at La Piccioletta Barca for giving it a home.

www.picciolettabarca.com/posts/iron-j...

La Piccioletta Barca | Iron-jawed beasts - by Kate Tsurkan In the hush of the grass, they coil and keep watch. Before, I would slip through the ...

A short prose piece I wrote after Russian drones and missiles targeted my Chernivtsi—many thanks to the editors at La Piccioletta Barca for giving it a home.

www.picciolettabarca.com/posts/iron-j...

Art after apocalypse — opera spurred by Russia’s ecocide in Ukraine to return to Kyiv Editor's Note: The Kyiv Independent is a media partner of the "Gaia-24" performance on Nov. 27 in Kyiv. Even in the midst of Russia’s ecocide against Ukraine — where forests are scorched, rivers are ...

The Opera Aperta team is bringing their hit production "Gaia-24" back to Kyiv this November. I wrote about how an opera can be powerful messaging against Russia's ecocide against Ukraine.

My latest for @kyivindependent.com

kyivindependent.com/art-after-ap...

‘A word fallen out of language’ and other poems — APOFENIE by Milena Findeis In the mouth, the word to taste to chew It hums in the ears is rolled by the eyes cut apart by grimaces Spread with hashtags processed in the news stream until it ends, checked o...

‘A word fallen out of language’ and other poems — APOFENIE
by Milena Findeis translated by Kate Tsurkan www.apofenie.com/the-latest-c...

Thanks to @katetsurkan.bsky.social , she translated my poems written in German—from the Ukrainian translation by Petro Rychlo—into English for the poetry magazine Apofenie.
www.apofenie.com

‘A word fallen out of language’ and other poems — APOFENIE by Milena Findeis In the mouth, the word to taste to chew It hums in the ears is rolled by the eyes cut apart by grimaces Spread with hashtags processed in the news stream until it ends, checked o...

Some standout, kinetic poems today by Austrian author Milena Findeis—

In the mouth, the word
to taste
to chew
It hums in the ears
is rolled by the eyes
cut apart by grimaces
(...)

www.apofenie.com/the-latest-c...

‘The Mother’ and other poems — APOFENIE by Ema Dumitriu In fleeing me, my wrath, my fear a female rat is giving birth on the hot sidewalk, steadily, trailing behind a streak of blood with child

In fleeing me, my wrath,
my fear
a female rat is giving birth
on the hot sidewalk,
steadily,
trailing behind a streak of blood
with child
(...)

More from Romanian-born poet Ema Dumitriu at the link below.

www.apofenie.com/the-latest-c...

Spies among us? Shaun Walker's new book details Russia’s decades-long international espionage program It could be a scene from a thriller — watching the FBI arrest your own parents for being Russian spies. But for Alexander and Timothy Vavilov, who had known their parents all their lives as Donald Hea...

For @kyivindependent.com I wrote about Guardian journalist Shaun Walker's new book on the history of Russia’s illegals spy program. One of the most insane books I’ve read in a awhile, but so well-written, definitely worth your time.

kyivindependent.com/spies-among-...

“True freedom is to live with dignity in your own land” Gaza survivor Plestia Alaqad on recognition without justice; Europe’s shifting conflict dynamics; and Trump’s U-turn on Ukraine policy

I spoke with Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad about some western states’ recognition of Palestine and what real justice for Palestinians looks like. That and more in latest Daily Humanity Dispatch, my new project with Katerina Sergatskova.

dailyhumanitydispatch.substack.com/p/true-freed...

‘I wanted to stand beside soldiers’ — Ai Weiwei on his trip to wartime Ukraine Amid the shadow of war, the world-renowned Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has brought his first-ever exhibition to Kyiv. Commissioned by the non-profit platform RIBBON International, Ai’s insta...

It was my honor to interview the great Ai Weiwei this past weekend when he came to Kyiv for his first exhibition in Ukraine. My latest for @kyivindependent.com.

kyivindependent.com/i-wanted-to-...

‘I wanted to stand beside soldiers’ — Ai Weiwei on his trip to wartime Ukraine Amid the shadow of war, the world-renowned Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has brought his first-ever exhibition to Kyiv. Commissioned by the non-profit platform RIBBON International, Ai’s insta...

It was my honor to interview the great Ai Weiwei this past weekend when he came to Kyiv for his first exhibition in Ukraine. My latest for @kyivindependent.com.

kyivindependent.com/i-wanted-to-...

LONG EYES - Lost Horse Press KHRYSTIA VENGRYNIUK’S Long Eyes is a collection of poems that guides us through the labyrinths of loneliness, where pain drifts like the wind and voices fade yet still echo on the edges of silence. It

You can now order Ukrainian author Khrystia Vengryniuk's incredible poetry collection LONG EYES, co-translated by Dmyto Kyyan and me. Spread the word!

losthorsepress.org/catalog/long...

How the right wing in US, Europe is weaponizing murders of Ukrainian refugees Iryna Zarutska and her family fled Ukraine in 2022 to escape the threat of Russia’s full-scale war against her homeland, seeking safety and the promise of a new life in the United States. But that hop...

The right wing in US, Europe don't care about Ukrainian lives unless their deaths can be weaponized to promote racist, xenophobic policies at home. My latest for @kyivindependent.com.

kyivindependent.com/how-the-righ...

That buzz from a literary magazine sending an acceptance letter hits different when it’s your own creative writing and not a translation 🤌🏻

‘No fate but what we make’ — Ukrainians transform storm-destroyed Burning Man installation When a storm in Nevada destroyed a Ukrainian art installation at this year’s Burning Man festival, the Ukrainian team turned a setback into a symbol. Drawing on resilience forged in more than three ye...

I wrote about Ukraine's installation/s/ at Burning Man this year, my latest for @kyivindependent.com

kyivindependent.com/no-fate-but-...