Looking At Women Looking At War (Ukraine)

[I talk about Trump's tariffs here. Also, an expanded version of this entry is found here.]

Victoria Amelina was (sigh) was a Ukrainian author and poet. When Russia invaded, she became a witness. This book is an unfinished account.

[S]he was thinking of a different kind of literary project: a book about the women who, like her, were taking huge risks to document the war. She would write this book in English, and in it she would deploy a purposeful jumble of interviews, diary entries, reports from field missions, Ukrainian history and even poetry. Such a book, she believed, wouldn’t only play its small part in holding the perpetrators accountable; one day, it would help to give “lasting peace a chance”. 

Victoria died from injuries after being injured by a Russian attack in mid-2023 while at a pizzeria. Her friends worked off her unfinished manuscript and notes. A collection of her poetry will also be released. 

Sirens:

Air-raid sirens across the country

It feels like everyone is brought out

For execution

But only one person gets targeted

Usually the one at the edge

This time not you; all clear

[A woman holds a photo of Victoria Amelina at a memorial service in Kyiv on 4 July 2023. Photograph: Alex Chan Tsz Yuk/Shutterstock]

The first section is a personal account of her reactions to the beginning of the invasion in 2022, including her trip back from vacation, leaving her son in Poland. His father was the head of international business and was not around. His funds helped her be independent. 

She opened her apartment to refugees and joined a group that reported war crimes and the stories of victims. She died shortly after taking part in the release of a war diary that she personally found buried. The author was killed by the Russians.  

Victoria Amelina left an twelve-year-old son and a message about the importance of telling stories, remembering history, and looking to the future. She noted that the law should be about people, collecting information in hope for future justice for victims. 

Ukraine fights on even if our nation is failing them.