Ukraine has once again made a powerful statement at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair with its national stand themed “Reclaiming the Voice,” a poignant reflection of the country’s struggle to maintain its cultural identity amid ongoing conflict.
“The voice of Ukraine has been drowned out by Russian imperial cruelty, which prefers uniformity over diversity, violence over dialogue,” Volodymyr Yermolenko, head of Ukrainian PEN, said. “Today, Ukraine is fighting to reclaim its voice. And in doing so, it fights for the rights of the voiceless—for all other nations and groups whose voices have long been ignored.”
Located in Pavilion 4.1 B64, the Ukrainian national stand, organized by the Ukrainian Book Institute (UBI), showcased more than 300 books from 30 publishers and one literary agency. Notable participants include A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA, Klub Simeinoho Dozvillya (KSD), and the Old Lion Publishing House.
Oleksandra Koval, UBI director, emphasized the fair’s significance for promoting Ukrainian literature translations. “Around 300 Ukrainian translations are published globally each year, yet a notable shortage of translators remains, largely due to Russian-language prioritization in Slavic studies departments,” Koval said.
The stand’s design draws inspiration from Pavlo Makov’s book Do Po. Borys Filonenko, stand curator and art critic, explained: “Ukraine’s pavilion offers discussions and presentations against the backdrop of these poles—between ‘before’ and ‘after’—between two directions into the future, where nuanced conversations unfold and voices can be heard.”
The five-day program includes featured discussions on war-inspired art, fallen writers, and the cultural landscape of Kharkiv. “We wanted to highlight literature that quickly and sharply reflects our wartime reality—journalism and poetry, which are currently flourishing in Ukraine,” said Tetiana Petrenko, co-curator of the Ukrainian program and head of PR at UBI.
This presence at Frankfurt comes as the Ukrainian publishing industry faces both growth and challenges. At the recent Kyiv Book Arsenal, UBI reported that while the industry is expanding, it remains relatively invisible on a national scale. Book production is increasing, but has yet to reach pre-COVID-19 levels. Revenues are rising due to increased book prices, with 370 Ukrainian publishers reporting a total revenue of 6.5 billion UAH ($158.5 million) in 2023.
The market has seen a shift in dynamics, with larger publishers weathering the 2022 crisis more easily than smaller ones. Out of 775 active publishers in the country, only 127 published more than 25 books in 2023. Production of new titles has slowed, as authors, impacted by the war, have been too occupied to write new books.
Translations play a crucial role in the market, with 63% of translated books in 2023 being adult fiction, 70% of which were translated from English. The share of literature translated from Russian continues to decline, reaching 4% in 2023.
Ukrainian books are also becoming more popular abroad. This fall, a new publishing house, Vika, is being established in honor of the Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina. The venture—a collaboration between Italian media group Linkiesta, the European Union, and PEN Ukraine—will focus on publishing Ukrainian and Italian literature, including translations of classic works.
The ongoing conflict has taken a toll on Ukraine’s literary community. A new project titled Unwritten has identified 194 literary figures killed in Russia’s ongoing aggression. Created by Yevhen Lir and Olena Herasymiuk, the initiative aims to preserve the legacy of Ukrainian writers and literary workers lost to the conflict. “We strive to preserve the memory of each one,” Lir said. “These individuals are part of our cultural heritage, and each deserves to be honored.”