Ukrainian writer, journalist, and intellectual Andriy Yuriyovych Kurkov became one of the most prominent participants in literary events in Brazil. In July 2026, he took part in FLIP (Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty)—one of the most prestigious literary festivals in Latin America—and also spoke in São Paulo, where a public conversation took place about Ukrainian literature, the war, and the modern history of Ukraine.
Andriy Kurkov was born on April 23, 1961. He is one of the most famous contemporary Ukrainian writers, whose works have been translated into more than forty languages worldwide. Author of the novels “Death and the Penguin”, “Grey Bees”, historical detective stories about Samson, and numerous essays, Kurkov has long represented Ukrainian culture on the international stage.
After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the writer became not only a man of letters, but also one of Ukraine’s most recognizable international spokespersons. He regularly speaks at book forums, conferences, and in leading global media, talking about the life of Ukrainians during the war and dispelling the myths of Russian propaganda.
“Diary of an Invasion”
Special attention in Brazil was drawn to the book “Diary of an Invasion” (Ucrânia: Diário de uma Guerra).
On the night of February 24, 2022, Andriy Kurkov was woken up by explosions of Russian missiles in Kyiv. The very next day, together with his family, he was forced to leave the capital. It was then that the writer began keeping a diary, recording every day everything that Ukrainians were experiencing: evacuation, life under shelling, mutual assistance between strangers, fear, loss, but at the same time—unbreakability and humanity.
The book is not a military-political study. It is an honest chronicle of the everyday life of a country fighting for its existence. Through personal stories, the author introduces the world to the culture, language, history, and national identity of Ukraine, showing the war through the eyes of ordinary people.
At the FLIP literary festival, Andriy Kurkov performed alongside writer of Ukrainian descent Maria Reva. The discussion was dedicated to the topics of war, memory, culture, and the role of literature in preserving historical truth.
During the meeting, the writer emphasized that after the start of the full-scale war, he stopped writing fiction for a while, because, according to him, reality became so dramatic that artistic fiction seemed inappropriate. That is why he began keeping a war diary.
Kurkov also noted that until recently, Ukrainian culture remained little-known to many countries of the world due to the long-standing policy of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, which appropriated or suppressed Ukrainian history and cultural heritage. According to him, the current war has forced the world to look more closely at Ukraine and its true identity.
After the festival, the writer held an open meeting in the editorial office of one of the largest Brazilian publications, Folha de S.Paulo. Together with journalist Patrícia Campos Mello, he spoke about literature, memory, war, and its impact on the daily life of Ukrainians.
After the discussion, a book signing session took place, during which readers had the opportunity to purchase the Brazilian edition of the book “Ucrânia: Diário de uma Guerra”. The event sparked significant interest among the Brazilian audience, who seek to better understand modern Ukraine through eyewitness testimony.
Today, Andriy Kurkov’s books fulfill a much broader mission than fictional literature. They have become a historical document that helps the world understand the tragedy of war, the strength of Ukrainian society, and the people’s desire for freedom.
The participation of the Ukrainian writer in Brazil’s largest literary events confirms once again: Ukrainian culture is increasingly confidently taking its place in the global humanitarian space. Through literature, personal testimony, and an honest account of the war, Andriy Kurkov helps the international community better understand Ukraine—its history, values, and resilience.
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Author: Olena Zhukova
Photo: Sergio Koei