Ukrainian Poetry in a Time of War: A Reading and Discussion with Olena Huseinova and Lyuba Yakimchuk

Olena Huseinova (poet, prose writer, radio host and producer; Ukraine) is the author of three poetry collections, most recently Нічний ефір [Night Air] (2024). Huseinova also writes short fiction and essays, some of which are featured in the anthology Ukraine 22: Ukrainian Writers Respond to War (2023). As the editor in chief at UA: Radio Culture, part of Ukraine’s Public Broadcasting, she oversees radio theater and literary programming, leads a team producing radio documentaries on Ukrainian culture, and hosts of her own live radio programs. From February 26, 2022, until August 2023, Huseinova was a key voice in 24-hour news broadcasting on Ukrainian Radio. She has since expanded her activities to include documentary writing about the Russian-Ukrainian war, particularly focusing on the impact on civilians during the Russian occupation. She is currently on fellowship with the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa. 

Lyuba Yakimchuk (poet, playwright, screenwriter, performance artist; Ukraine) is the author of the poetry books Абрикоси Донбасу [Apricots of Donbas] (2015) and Як мода [Like Fashion] (2009), as well as the plays Wall and Schrödinger’s Cat. She also wrote the screenplays for both the film Slovo House. Unfinished Novel (2021) and the documentary Slovo House (2017). Yakimchuk was a songwriter and spoken word artist on the album Ukrainian Songs of Love and Hate (2022) and coauthor with Mary Branley of the libretto for the musical Freedom Letters. Her writing has been translated into more than twenty languages, and she read her poetry as part of John Legend’s performance during the 2022 Grammys. Her work has been covered by The New York Times, BBC, CBC, and CNN. She is currently on fellowship with the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.