Hugh Roberts

[dasein: defence of presence] | jantarpublishing.com “Ms. Chornohuz’s story is emblematic of a poetry boom that has swept Ukraine during the war with Russia.” – The New York Times “One of Ukraine’s most celebrated poets.” – The Guardian Yaryna Chornohuz...

Advanced copies of @yarachornohuz.bsky.social [dasein: defence of presence], translated by @aglaser.bsky.social available from @jantarbooks.bsky.social with free postage in UK.

www.jantarpublishing.com/product-page...

Royal Ballet and Opera house urged to drop Russian soprano with Putin links Exclusive: MPs and Ukrainian artists sign letter saying Anna Netrebko is ‘symbol of cultural propaganda for a regime responsible for war crimes’

Writers, artists and MPs have urged the Royal Ballet and Opera House to drop the Russian soprano Anna Netrebko from its new season. The singer is a “longtime symbol of cultural propaganda for a regime that Is responsible for serious war crimes” they write www.theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

We are here, we will not be forgotten: South Africa and Ukraine in dialogue through literature The dialogue between Yuliya Musakovska and Quaz Roodt.

Important conversation between the poets Yuliya Musakovska (Ukraine) and Quaz Roodt (South Africa).

"Literaturre can help us look into the eyes of the other and see there an image — an always new and unexpected image — of ourselves."

ukraineworld.org/en/articles/...

Meet Shraik, the wild kestrel who attacked a Russian drone mid-flight.

Wounded but alive, he was rescued by Ukrainian soldiers & underwent surgery.

Recovery will be long. His rescuers paid for everything. He is one of them now.

Now he rests. One day, he’ll fly again—over free Ukrainian skies.

Russian drone attack on Kyiv injures 14, triggers multiple fires, mayor says Seven-hour assault prompts Ukraine to accuse Putin of humiliating Trump hours after the two men spoke by phone

Here's my report from Kyiv after last night's huge Russian attack. As one Ukrainian adviser put it Putin is "publicly humiliating" Donald Trump after their phone call yesterday. The US strategy of appeasing Russia doesn't work - and civilians are paying the price www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Massive Russian drone attack in Kyiv right now. You can hear the moped-like whine of drones flying above the centre of the city - one, two, then many more - followed by booms and machine gun fire from Ukrainian units trying to shoot them down. This is Putin’s war, of course - but also Trump’s ..

YouTube video by University of Exeter We Are War: On Bearing Witness and Sharing Pain

@okhromeychuk.bsky.social of @ukrinstitute.bsky.social 'We Are War: On Bearing Witness and Sharing Pain', talk at the University of Exeter now available on YouTube.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ueww...

We Were Here by Artur Dron Trans. Yuliya Musakovska. Jantar. 2024. 101 pages.

Nicole Yurtsaba's review of Artur Dron, 'We Were Here', trans. by Yuliya Musakovska.

'Every publication by a Ukrainian writer is a means of survival, a contribution to cultural preservation, and a stand against centuries-long Russian imperialism'

worldliteraturetoday.org/2025/july/we...

A voice from Ukraine: A poet’s war against darkness As a poet, I should believe in the power of poetry to change lives, but I’m under no illusion

Important article by my friend and colleague, the great Ukrainian poet and cultural advocate, Yuliya Musakovska.

english.mathrubhumi.com/features/spe...

Today at 4pm (UK) @okhromeychuk.bsky.social

Zoom link: universityofexeter.zoom.us/j/9811766528...

We Are War: On Bearing Witness and Sharing Pain Dr Olesya Khromeychuk delivers this talk on the ways in which war transforms language, literature, and those who bear witness.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/we-are-war...

REMINDER to book and join in-person or online next week for @okhromeychuk.bsky.social's extremely timely talk.

@uniofexeterhass.bsky.social
@uniofexeternews.bsky.social
@ukrinstitute.bsky.social
@exetercityoflit.bsky.social

YouTube video by University of Exeter Book Launch: Artur Dron', We Were Here

Artur Dron', 'We Were Here' book launch recording.

@jantarbooks.bsky.social
@uniofexeterhass.bsky.social
@uniofexeternews.bsky.social
@exetercityoflit.bsky.social
@mcrcityoflit.bsky.social
@ukrinstitute.bsky.social

youtu.be/9LBJDQthK3c?...

‘Trigger Warning’: A Workshop on Writing Pain - Exeter Phoenix This workshop explores the power of writing about war, grief, and trauma—not only as a form of expression, but as an act of social justice.

exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/trigg...

We Are War: On Bearing Witness and Sharing Pain Dr Olesya Khromeychuk delivers this talk on the ways in which war transforms language, literature, and those who bear witness.

www.eventbrite.com/e/we-are-war...

@okhromeychuk.bsky.social 'We Are War: On Bearing Witness and Sharing Pain' talk @uniofexeterhass.bsky.social 4 June, 5-5pm + reception and book signing

@exetercityoflit.bsky.social
@ukrinstitute.bsky.social

@okhromeychuk.bsky.social 'Trigger Warning: A Workshop on Writing Pain' @exeterphoenix.bsky.social 3 June 5-6.30pm

@exetercityoflit.bsky.social
@uniofexeterhass.bsky.social
@ukrinstitute.bsky.social

Artur Dron, 'We Were Here' book launch - 5.30pm (UK time) tomorrow (6 May). Join on Zoom: universityofexeter.zoom.us/j/9133140895...

@jantarbooks.bsky.social

We Were Here: Artur Dron Celebrated Ukrainian poet and serviceman Artur Dron' concludes his tour of the launch of his poetry collection, We Were Here.

To book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/we-were-he...

Exeter experts support Ukrainian poet and soldier Artur Dron to share experiences of the war from the front line and beyond Exeter experts are supporting renowned Ukrainian poet turned soldier Artur Dron to share the experiences of those fighting on Europe’s front line. Artur Dron has had to endure multiple operations and ...

@uniofexeternews.bsky.social on Artur Dron, 'We Were Here'.

@jantarbooks.bsky.social
@exetercityoflit.bsky.social
@mcrcityoflit.bsky.social
@ukrinstitute.bsky.social
@uniofexeterhass.bsky.social

news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-h...

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Marina Ponomarenko is a tremendous Ukrainian poetess. Here is a poem she wrote on 24 December 2024, and my translation.

We must support research preserving culture, history and human dignity Exeter’s self-funded translation of Ukrainian war poetry ensures it reaches a global audience and contributes to historical justice, says Svitlana Arbuzova

'Ukrainian wartime poetry is more than artistic expression; it is a vital medium for processing trauma, asserting identity, and bearing witness to history.' - Prof. Svitlana Arbuzova in @timeshighered.bsky.social

www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/we-m...

The collective experience of pain: A review of Artur Dron’s book of poems 'We Were Here' All writers fortunate enough to publish their first book face the risk of never publishing a second. There are many reasons why a literary career might end at the outset, but traditionally, it stems from a writer’s crisis. An author might convey everything they wanted (and were able to) in their debut work and then find they simply have nothing more to say. Other times, the first book goes unnoticed by the general public or receives negative reviews, which may cause the author to lose confidence in their talent and stop writing. The opposite can also happen: A debut might be so overwhelmingly successful that the fear of failing to meet expectations prevents the author from continuing.

“We Were Here” is the second book of poems by Ukrainian poet Artur Dron. Published in Ukraine in 2023, the book quickly brought the twenty-two-year-old author immense popularity. Within the first 5 months after its release, the entire 5,000-copy edition sold out. #Chytomo_Picks

Hybrid book launch for Ukrainian poet and soldier Artur Dron', 'We Were Here', trans. by Yuliya Musakovska.

Join via Zoom or live in Lviv or in Exeter, 6 May, 5.30-7pm (UK).

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/we-were-he...

@uniofexeterhass.bsky.social
@exetercityoflit.bsky.social
@jantarbooks.bsky.social

The death toll has risen to 32, including two kids aged seven and 11. Another 99 injured. A grim day and a sign that Russia has no intention of stopping its bloody war, or engaging in a "peace process"

We quarrelled again about when to celebrate your birth. But, you know, Bethlehem was bombed on both 25th December and January 7th. No manger, no sheep, no maternity ward, no kindergarten, no playground. When you get a bit older and start talking, tell your mum to tell my mum how she should bear all of this.

Part of Dron's poem 'Prayer' which has stuck with me since first reading it.

A picture of a book cover and a leaflet with some introductory text from the poet about the meaning of why he writes poetry and which will not fit in here. The book is Artur Dron's We Were Here, it's cover is an amber frame within which is a soldier's head, he has blue eyes, and a pixel camouflage pattern in greens and beiges.

I was introduced to Artur Dron's poetry by Victor Shepelev's translations. Finally picked up the Jantar edition in translation, by Yuliya Musakovska, of We Were Here.

Important interview with Ukrainian poet and soldier Artur Dron' for @ukraineworld.bsky.social

Artur Dron's collection available in English from @jantarbooks.bsky.social

ukraineworld.org/en/articles/...

'The voice of a love that can conquer all needs to be shouted now. Dron' shouts it well.'

Reader review of Artur Dron', "We Were Here", trans. by Yuliya Musakovska from @jantarbooks.bsky.social

www.eurolitnetwork.com/rivetingrevi...

Every day there is bad news, the heart is breaking, there is no strength left💔
Today, a father, Oleksandr, and his 5-year-old daughter, Nicole, were killed in a russian attack on Kyiv, and the mother is in the hospital.

Burn in hell russia!
#russiaIsATerroristState