Looking at Women Looking at War: Victoria Amelina’s documentary book presented at the 13th International Book Arsenal Festival

The event took place on June 1 within PEN Ukraine’s special program The Cardiogram of Translation.

Victoria Amelina’s book constitutes a collection of reportages about the Ukrainian women documenting Russian war crimes. These women have witnessed the worst terrors of Russia’s aggression and occupation. The book is a convincing explanation why Russia’s war against Ukraine began long before 2014 and why it is important for the world to remember Russia’s terror against Ukrainians in 1930s and 1960s.

When opening the presentation, Tetyana Teren, cultural manager and member of the Executive Board of PEN Ukraine, said that Amelina wrote this book for the English-speaking audience, and now it has already been translated into 15 world languages.

"Victoria began to work on the book in summer 2022. The manuscript was 60% ready by the moment of her death. During the next year, the editorial group prepared the book for publication. We would really like Victoria herself to present this book. Today, we gathered the protagonists of the book for the first time. Every one of them will talk to Victoria in her own manner", said Tetyana Teren.

Writer and director of the INDEX: Institute for Documentation and Exchange Sasha Dovzhyk pointed out that the book was subtitled "Diary of War and Justice" for a certain reason.

"It was pursuit for justice that moved Victoria Amelina forward. And this book is now a tool in our fight for justice. It continues to attest to the Russian-committed evil in the way it has been written and on the level of its senses, its stories", said Sasha Dovzhyk.

Literary scholar and translator Yaryna Grusha shared the impressions from her work of presenting the book in the USA, the UK, Germany and Sweden. She said that she had seen the influence that Amelina’s words had on the foreign audience.

"The world’s top politicians have this book. Victoria Amelina and her book still work for Ukraine. This means that Victoria continues her mission," Yaryna Grusha emphasized.

The participants of the presentation – Victoria Babii, Larysa Denysenko, Yevheniia Zakrevska, Iryna Dovhan, Yuliia Kakulia-Danyliuk, Vira Kuryko-Ahiienko, Iryna Novitska, Tetyana Pylypchuk, Svitlana Povaliaieva, Yevheniia Podobna, Kateryna Rashevska, Olena Stiazhkina – shared their memories of Victoria Amelina. Each woman had her own story of connection to the writer.

The Truth Hounds’ coordinators of field researcher Victoria Babii told how she attempted to dissuade Amelina from documenting war crimes.

"She possessed two qualities, each absolutely necessary for documenting and absolutely onerous for documenting. First, she was a very empathetic person, and second, she valued a chance to discover the truth more than a chance to survive."

Writer and human rights advocate Larysa Denysenko urged the audience to read Amelina’s books because her voice "must ring through generations".

"I would like us to keep not only the voice of Victoria’s death in our memory but also the voice of her life. We must read her books, both childrens’ and adults’."

Svitlana Povaliaieva, writer and member of PEN Ukraine, remembered Victoria’s care for people, empathy, and easiness in getting along with.

"Victoria was pure never-ending light. No one knows what will happen to us tomorrow. But light, love for people, justice and action will always continue and brighten up our lives."

Kateryna Rashevska, lawyer with the Regional Center for Human Rights, told how Victoria continued inspiring her in her work.

"There are moments when I lack inspiration or want to throw in the towel. But I always look at a book on my table. Victoria’s deep blue eyes look at me from its cover. It feels like Victoria says, ‘Don’t you dare to ever give up’."

History scholar and writer Olena Stiazhkina pointed out that her text is not present in the book, which she takes as a privilege because her own conversation with Amelina will last for her own life.

"Victoria means victory. She never used another word. She was very indulgent towards us. She could forgive almost everything but despair."

The American edition of the book can be ordered on the Macmillan Publishers St. Martin’s Press website. For the British edition, please apply to the Harper Collins website. The book can also be ordered from Ukrainian online bookstores.

Additional information:

Victoria Amelina was a Ukrainian writer, member of PEN Ukraine and documenter of Russian war crimes with the Truth Hounds organization. On June 27, 2023, Victoria Amelina was severely injured during a rocket attack on Kramatorsk by Russian troops. On that day, the writer was in the city center with a delegation of Colombian journalists and writers. On July 1, 2023, Victoria Amelina passed away at the age of 37 in a hospital in Dnipro.

The Book Arsenal is an international event organized by the Mystetskyi Arsenal. The festival has been held annually since 2011, and it became one of the most impactful literary and art events in Eastern Europe. In 2019, it was recognized as the World Best Literary Festival. The mission of the festival is to create the kinds of interactions between people, communities, and institutions that could enhance the individuals’ and societies’ capacities by connecting aesthetic experiences with intellectual involvement in the book context.