Join prominent Ukrainian writers Yuliya Musakovska and Olena Huseinova for a reading of wartime poetry that explores the ongoing realities of resistance and survival amid Russian aggression.

Alongside their poignant work, the poets will carry the voices of their colleagues serving in Ukraine’s Defence Forces. The poems will be presented in both the original Ukrainian and in English translation.

Come and experience poetry as a space to reflect, connect, and stand together in times of turbulence and uncertainty.

Pay what you can afford. Proceeds will go in support of the Hospitallers Medical Battalion.

Books by the participating poets will be available for purchase at the event.

Yuliya Musakovska is an internationally acclaimed Ukrainian poet and translator. She has published six poetry collections, most recently Stones and Nails (2024). Her book The God of Freedom, in English translation, was named one of the Top 10 Ukraine-related books of 2024 by The Kyiv Independent. Her work has been translated into more than 30 languages. Yuliya is the winner of the 2025 Asian Prize for Poetry and the 2025 Diana Der Hovanessian Prize for poetry translation. In 2023, she paused her 20-year career in IT and international business to focus on cultural advocacy for Ukraine. Yuliya is a co-founder of the Lines of Resistance initiative between Ukraine and the UK, focused on Ukrainian wartime poetry. She is a member of PEN Ukraine.

Olena Huseinova is a writer, radio host, and radio producer from Ukraine. She has authored three poetry collections: Відкритий Райдер (Open Rider) (2012), Супергерої (Superheroes) (2016), and Нічний ефір (Night Air) (2024). She also writes short fiction and essays. Until January 2025, she served as the editor-in-chief at UA: Radio Culture, where she oversaw radio theatre and literary programming. Since February 26, 2022, she has been one of the key voices in the 24-hour news marathon on Ukrainian Radio. Writer-in-residence at the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa (2024). In January 2025, she became the creative producer for Radio Khartiya, a project that has become the voice of front-line Kharkiv, led by Serhiy Zhadan.

Hugh Roberts (chair), Professor of French at the University of Exeter, has been facilitating translations of work by Ukrainian poet-soldiers since Yuliya Musakovska and Olena Huseinova introduced him to it in summer 2023. He coordinates the Lines of Resistance initiative with funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the British Academy, and the British Council.

This work is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council Curiosity Award (grant number UKRI3524).