Uilleam Blacker

Uilleam Blacker & Olesya Khromeychuk: The Ukraine Shelf From Sun 10 Aug - As the war in Ukraine continues, The Ukraine Shelf podcast brings together leading authors, scholars, and journalists for lively and informed discussions about what we should be read...

Very excited to be recording a special edition of The Ukraine Shelf at @edbookfest.bsky.social with my co-host @okhromeychuk.bsky.social and the brilliant Oksana Maksymchuk and Phillipe Sands! Ticketes here: www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

Presented on a fantastic panel “Contact zones & Cross-Cultural Dialogue in Ukrainian Literature” chaired by @uilleamblacker.bsky.social & had the pleasure to run a panel series “Between Past & Future: The Ukrainian War as a Battle for Identity” @iceeess.bsky.social, hosted by @uclssees.bsky.social

Uilleam Blacker: ‘My understanding of postcolonialism came through Ukrainian literature’ The translator and researcher on the most impactful stories in Ukrainian literature, the role of cultural diplomacy and the craft of translation

My interview for The Ukrainians is now available in English. We talked postcolonialism, western cultural biases, translation, Ukrainian-Scottish parallels, and more. theukrainians.org/en/uilleam-b...

Very much looking forward to being in conversation with Dame Melinda Simmons today at #iccees2025, hosted at @uclssees.bsky.social. We'll be talking Ukraine, Poland, the Russian threat, and more www.iccees2025.org/keynote-spea...

I had the pleasure of speaking at European Literature Night recently, in a discussion about the role of culture in resisting indifference. Here’s a clip of me reflecting on why culture is always political, but I’d highly recommend watching the full recording on YouTube: youtu.be/oK9QlhCKq24?.... 1/2

👀

Thank you, Frank!

Уям Блекер: «Що таке постколоніалізм, я зрозумів через українську літературу» – The Ukrainians Перекладач і дослідник — про сильні сюжети української літератури, роль культурної дипломатії й те, як працювати з мовами

My interview with @bohdananeborak.bsky.social for The Ukrainians is now free to access. We discussed overcoming colonial complexes, writing in marginalised languages, imagining place through literature, translation, war poetry and more. theukrainians.org/uilleam-blac...

Russia's logic accepted by many:

1. Tupolev bomber launches missile into Kyiv's main children hospital on 8 July 2024.

2. Ukraine destroys Tupolev bombers on 1 June 2025.

3. In retaliation, Russia bombs Odesa's main maternity hospital on 10 June.

Legit tit for tat!

All good.

Cultural diplomacy and public education aren’t luxuries — they’re matters of security. Help us turn curiosity into lasting engagement. Join @ukrinstitute.bsky.social's summer fundraiser: from soil to soul. Wed 25 June, 6:30 pm | Bishopsgate Institute. More info: www.tickettailor.com/events/ukrai...

💔 In Odesa, 2 people have already died, 9 people were injured!

🚑 A maternity hospital was hit. The administrative building of the emergency medical station was completely destroyed. Several ambulances were damaged.

Sophia Cathedral, an XI century symbol of Ukraine was damaged by the Russian military attack last night. I remember the tragedy of Notre Dame fire as a tragedy of all the Europe. Sophia is of the same value to our shared history. Speak about Sophia today, mourn with us.

As @uilleamblacker.bsky.social writes at the end of his review, the lesson is universal.

A Ukrainian Crime Caper That Undermines Expectations Andrey Kurkov’s crime thrillers provide timely lessons for anyone living under an oppressive regime.

I have a special fondness for crime fiction that excels in the genre yet also rewards close reading with hidden depths. Andrey Kurkov's Kyiv novels, superbly handled by @bdralyuk.bsky.social, fall into that category. It was a joy to review them in @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/books/archiv...

Not ashamed to admit that @uilleamblacker.bsky.social’s @theatlantic.com essay on Andrey Kurkov’s Kyiv Mysteries, the third volume of which I am currently steeped in, moved me to tears. A rare privilege—for authors, translators, anyone—to be so well understood. www.theatlantic.com/books/archiv...

‘Does he know anything?’: Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev on Trump’s plans to legitimise Russian annexation Exiled Soviet-era dissident tells the Guardian that for the US to turn its back on the territory would be ‘shameful’

Dzhemilev is a remarkable figure, who has been at the centre of opposition to Russian imperialism for decades. Good interview by @shaunwalker7.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Thanks, Marek!

This is compelling for many reasons, not least for its powerful insights into the relationship between #language choice and emotion.

Episode 4 of The Ukraine Shelf is out now — listen to
@uilleamblacker.bsky.social @okhromeychuk.bsky.social
Yuliya Musakovska and Maria Tumarkin discuss writing about war and trauma.

🔗 Listen to it here and find out more about book recommendations: www.ucl.ac.uk/european-ins...

Уям Блекер: «Що таке постколоніалізм, я зрозумів через українську літературу» – The Ukrainians Перекладач і дослідник — про сильні сюжети української літератури, роль культурної дипломатії й те, як працювати з мовами

On postcolonialism from a Ukrainian perspective, cultural diplomacy, global literary hierarchy, and more: my interview for The Ukrainians. Huge thanks to @bohdananeborak.bsky.social for a great conversation! (In Ukrainian) theukrainians.org/uilleam-blac...

EU and UK ink partnership deal on security, fisheries and energy The deal comes nearly a decade after the UK voted to leave the European Union.

Details to be announced later today, but the new UK-EU deal, resetting the post-Brexit trade relationship, has been agreed - as usual, quite close to the wire.

Security/defence is the big one, but fishing, travel & youth mobility will likely make the headlines.

www.politico.eu/article/eu-a...

Photo of the presenters of the podcast with the title ‘writing war and trauma withY Musakovska and Maria Tumarkin’

New Ukraine Shelf is out! Yuliya Musakovska and Maria Tumarkin joined us in front of a live audience in Lviv to discuss writing war and trauma, and the conversation was superb, don’t miss it! Find on youtube etc here: www.ucl.ac.uk/european-ins...

‘As we remember those who gave their lives for freedom both 80 years ago and continue to do so now, let us work towards a peace where “never again” is realised not only in words but also in practice.’ Olesya Khromeychuk, UIL Director.
@okhromeychuk.bsky.social

Last week @okhromeychuk.bsky.social & I recorded our first Ukraine Shelf episode in Ukraine! Julia Musakovska & Maria Tumarkin joined us in Lviv to discuss war poetry, silence, the meaning of place, survival & more. Soon on youtube, soundcloud etc! Thanks @dovzhyk.bsky.social for the invitation!

YouTube video by Hay Festival Looking at Women, Looking at War by Victoria Amelina | Hay Festival Book Club APRIL 2025

It was an honour to discuss Victoria Amelina's piercing, moving book about Ukrainian resistance to the invasion for @hayfestival.bsky.social with Tetiana Teren, who was part of the amazing team who brought this book to publication. It was a great conversation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q5L...

🎧 The Ukraine Shelf Podcast Ep. 3 is out now!

Explore Eastern Ukraine with @okhromeychuk.bsky.social, @uilleamblacker.bsky.social, Olena Stiazhkina & Victoria Donovan from Donetsk & Luhansk to empire, identity & resistance.

🎙️ Listen now: youtu.be/NjoJ40hapDc

This was such a great conversation on the myths and misconceptions of eastern Ukraine. New Ukraine Shelf episode out now!

Catch up with our new podcast on the best books on Ukraine! New episode on Ukraine’s east coming soon!

Catch up with our new podcast on the best books on Ukraine! New episode on Ukraine’s east coming soon!

Publishing house of Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute latest target of Trump’s federal budget cuts The future of Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) publishing program is in jeopardy, as it has become the latest target of sweeping grant cuts under the administration of U.S. President Dona...

Moscow killed Mike Yohansen in 1937 and banned his books. I never expected Washington to try to kill my translation of his best novel in 2025. Read @katetsurkan.bsky.social's latest for @kyivindependent.com on Trump's attack on Ukrainian literature in translation. kyivindependent.com/publishing-h...