PEN Ukraine appeals to international PEN centers and fellow writers, journalists and intellectuals.
On this page, we tell about current situation in Ukraine and share official sources, media and accounts on Twitter, whose information can be trusted. You can follow the updates on sources that we recommend. Now, it’s important to tell the truth about the Russia’s war against Ukraine and appeal for support of parliaments and governments in the world.
Russia attacked Ukraine on the morning of February 24.
A rocket fire began on several military facilities and airfields. Dozens of civilians were also killed in residential buildings and civilian buildings. At the same time, military equipment entered Ukrainian territory from Russia, Belarus and the previously occupied territories of Ukraine - parts of Luhansk and Crimea.
Russian propaganda openly declares its desire to exterminate Ukrainians as a nation. 83% of the Russian population supports its desire. Putin's popularity has skyrocketed after the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's war criminals use the same methods as did Nazi Germany. In temporary occupied areas Russians forcefully deported several thousand residents to Russian filtration camps. Russian occupants force people to undress, looking for any tattoos. In Luhansk, Donetsk, Chernihiv and Sumy regions occupants withdraw Ukrainian historical and fiction books from libraries.
Russia does not allow the evacuation of civilians. The occupants continue to bomb residential areas and hospitals thus organizing an artificial humanitarian catastrophe in many cities. People have been living without food, water, light, and heat for several days now, while Russia violates all kinds of world conventions and drops bombs and missiles on people's heads.
The Russian army continues to fire on the civilian population of Ukrainian cities such as Kharkiv, Mariupol, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and others using prohibited cluster and phosphorous bombs. Since the beginning of war Russia has launched more than 1200 missiles. The number of victims is so great that citizens bury civilian victims in mass graves.
Dozens of cultural sites have been destroyed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Among them is a museum of a Ukrainian naive artist, a plane listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, cathedrals, theaters, schools, and many other architectural monuments. UNESCO calls Russia to immediately end aggression against Ukraine. Russia damaged 202 schools, 34 hospitals, and more than 1500 residential buildings.
Thousands of people in Ukraine, including children, pregnant women and the elderly, are currently on the brink of extinction without access to medicine, food, or drinking water. In occupied cities Russian invading forces broadcasting Russian propaganda.
Despite that NATO still refuses to implement a no-fly zone around the country which has given Russia a green light to continue bombarding peaceful towns and villages.
The Ukrainian army repulses the aggressor. Ukrainian society is more united than ever, helping the army and supporting people forced to flee the war zone. After an unsuccessful attack on Ukraine, the Russian army started brutally shelling civil infrastructure: residential blocks, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, public transport, and civilian cars. Among the facilities shelled by the Russian army are the infamous Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
Firstly, to call the war of Russia against Ukraine a war. Not a "crisis", a "conflict" or a "military operation".
Secondly, to demand Western leaders - German Chancellor Scholz, French President Macron, US President Biden and British Prime Minister Johnson:
We call to boycott the Russian state now, until it completely with draws from Ukraine and is held responsible for its war crimes. We consider this a necessary step to push back the aggressor that launched a violent and unjustified invasion against Ukraine, a sovereign and peaceful European country, and has long instrumentalised culture and soft power for political propaganda and manipulation of public opinion. Help Ukraine by stopping any cooperation with Russia and communicate your decision publicly to encourage your peers to follow your example. Use the hashtags #BoycottRussia, #StandWithUkraine, #StopRussia.
Several thousand civilians have been killed in Ukraine due to the Russian full-scale war, among them at least 229 children. At least 423 children have been injured. It is impossible to establish the actual number of dead and wounded due to the fact that the occupation forces are continuing their assault of Ukrainian cities. Russia’s war against Ukraine has already produced over 6,2 million refugees.
Linked here is a list of Ukrainian cultural figures killed since the Russian Federation began their full scale war.
On 14 May, news emerged of the death of poet, screenwriter and musician Ilia Chernilevsky. He died protecting Ukraine in the Armed Forces.
On 14 May, the death of Denys Antipov was confirmed. He was a translator and lecturer of Korean language at the Institute of Philology of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. He died protecting Ukraine in the Armed Forces.
On 10 May, it became known that journalist and blogger Oksana Gaidar was killed in the bombing in the Kyiv region. Gaidar’s death dates back to March 11 or 12, when Russian artillery hit her village.
On 8 May, it became known that Bohdan Slyushchynsky, a doctor of sociology and professor at Mariupol State University, was killed as a result of Russian agression.
On 4 May, it became known that Oleksandr Makhov, journalist and serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, died in shelling by the occupiers.
At a time when the Kremlin persecutes independent journalism in Russia, it also crushes it in the war against Ukraine. Russian troops bombard Ukrainian cell towers, shell vehicles with PRESS signs, wound and rob journalists. International humanitarian law or fundamental moral principles mean nothing to them. In this report PEN Ukraine conducting a weekly monitoring of all crimes the invader perpetrates against representatives of independent Ukrainian and international media.
Journalists killed since the beginning of full-scale Russia's war against Ukraine:
On 2 April, Lithuanian documentary maker Mantas Kvedaravicius was killed in Mariupol.
On 1 April, missing Ukrainian photojournalist Maks Levin was found dead near Kyiv after being shot dead by Russian soldiers.
On 23 March, Russian journalist Oksana Baulina was killed amid Russian attack on Kyiv.
On 15 March, Ukrainian journalist and Fox News producer Oleksandra Kuvshynova was killed in Gorenka near Kyiv.
On 15 March, Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski was killed in Gorenka near Kyiv.
In order to comprehend the events of the last days, we launched a series of conversations #DialoguesOnWar. Ukrainian and foreign intellectuals will talk about the experience of the war and share their own observations
What do you know about Ukrainians? For the last ten years, Ukraine has been published on the covers of world newspapers with the headlines “Revolution of Dignity” and “War”. These events proved that freedom is the key value of the Ukrainian people. Why do Ukrainians continue to fight for their values, despite the aggression of one of the largest countries in the world? We have compiled a list of fiction and non-fiction books that will help you better understand Ukrainian history and mentality. All books are available in English.
Before the Russian invasion of 2022, many people could barely find Ukraine on the world map. Now, the names of Ukrainian cities resonate on daily international news casts in the most tragic of circumstances. Yet their intimate pre-war histories – containing multitudes of lives, wishes and daily struggles – remain mostly unknown to the outside world. We are showcasing a collection of literary reportage that may appeal to readers abroad. Sometimes the best way to discover the real Ukraine is by giving the floor to everyday people.
PEN Ukraine created a list of 40 Iconic Figures of Ukrainian Culture, which includes innovative artists, global stars and key figures of Ukrainian culture. Among them are world-renowned artists, outstanding painters and graphic artists, architects and sculptors, poets, prose writers, playwrights, actors, filmmakers, choreographers, composers, singers. The material is available at the link.
Russia is effectively a totalitarian state, and too often it uses culture tool picked from its state propaganda toolbox. For the sake of Ukraine, and to uphold and preserve the principles of peace and order, we are calling for the international cultural community to sign these statements and petitions:
Considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the world wants and needs to understand what this war is really about. Over the last decade, numerous important nonfiction works, novels, memoirs, plays and even children’s books were published in Ukrainian to explain the reality of the situation. Here you can find a selection of these books which we would recommend to be translated into other languages in order for the world to gain the better understanding.
Open culture foundation
PEN Ukraine together with PEN Belarus, PEN Poland and Open Culture Foundation organized a public fundraiser to support the creative community of Ukraine
Humanitarian support
Joint initiative of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Rozetka, Fozzy Group, TIS, Dragon Capital, Novaya Pochta, Spunbond fund for provision humanitarian and medical assistance to the people of Ukraine
Ukrainian ARMY SUPPORT
International Charitable Organization “Come back alive” which provide support to Ukrainian Army
You can check the information and learn about common fakes and manipulations that Russia throws into the information space of Ukraine on the websites of fact-checking organizations:
