Turkish expert in international relations, analyst, retired colonel, and researcher Canfer Balçık has become the author of the first book in Turkish about the war of Russia against Ukraine. In his work, he seeks to describe the conditions in which Ukraine lives, combining historical, social, and human perspectives, shaped by his personal observations, with special attention to the tragedies experienced by children during the war.
Balçık’s interest in Ukraine emerged long before the full-scale invasion. After his first visits, he admitted that he had rethought many common perceptions widespread in Turkey: “When you come to Ukraine, you realize that Ukrainians and Russians are different peoples. They differ in character and in values.” It was this personal experience that became the key to understanding the country and the driving force behind writing the book.
Balçık emphasizes that the external perception of the war is often distorted: “The world does not fully understand what is really happening in Ukraine. That is why I felt a duty to tell this story.” The author is convinced that it is impossible to write about war without witnessing it firsthand. That is why he stayed in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion, documenting events directly: “If you have not been there, if you have not heard the sirens and explosions, you cannot convey the truth.”
A special place in the book is given to the theme of children. The tragedies he witnessed forced him to shift his focus from military analysis to the humanitarian dimension: “What struck me the most was the pain of children. It made me write this book differently.” The author, who visited Ukraine multiple times before, during, and after the outbreak of the war, noted that children who used to laugh constantly can no longer smile, even while playing. That is why the title of the book can be translated as “Children Who Cannot Laugh While Playing” (there is no official translation yet).
Balçık admits that he was deeply impressed by the strength of Ukrainian society: “I did not expect such unity and resilience. People are ready to fight for their country until the end.” Drawing on numerous events he personally witnessed, as well as using aphorisms and parables that provoke reflection, the author skillfully engages the reader. The book also includes his own poetry dedicated to the war.
Writing the book “Oynarken Gülemeyen Çocuklar” is not just an analytical effort, but a duty of a witness and a tribute to humanity. It serves as a bridge between nations, helping Turkey and the world understand the true scale of Ukraine’s struggle. Balçık warns the international community: the war in Ukraine is not a local conflict. “The dark clouds over the future of Ukrainian children have the potential to overshadow the future of children in Europe. Peace without guarantees for a child’s tomorrow is not peace.”
He sees his book as a personal mission — to convey the truth about the war to Turkish and international readers, to break stereotypes, and to show the reality that Ukrainians live through every day.
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Photo: https://www.ukrinform.ua/ and https://www.kirimdernegi.org.tr/