Book Review: Sky Above Kharkiv: Dispatches from the Ukrainian Front by Serhiy Zhadan (translated by Reilly Costigan-Humes and Isaac Stackhouse Wheeler)

My Rating: 4.5⭐

“War sharply changes ways of seeing, changes feelings. Above all, it immediately changes the weight of a great many things, things that seemed necessary and obvious just a day ago.” -From the Introduction by the author, Sky above Kharkiv: Dispatches from the Ukrainian Front

Sky Above Kharkiv: Dispatches from the Ukrainian Front comprises a series of social media posts written by Ukrainian writer-activist Serhiy Zhadan (translated from the original Ukrainian by Reilly Costigan-Humes and Isaac Stackhouse Wheeler) through which he documents the first four months of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“Reminds me of the Second World War. I’m referring to the occupiers’ ideology and moral imperative, first and foremost. They’ve come here to liberate us from us. They don’t even have a compelling narrative for those with weak stomachs. They simply want to destroy us, just in case, just because.” (excerpt from author’s post on March 2, 2022)

Originally posted on the writer’s Facebook account between February 24 and June 24, 2022, these segments provide a first-hand account of life in Kharkiv during the first four months of the Ukrainians’ armed resistance against the Russian onslaught and a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of civilians and servicemen in a city being ravaged by war. Zhadan writes about his city and his homeland, the atrocities of war and the devastation he witnesses day in and day out while driving around the city with his friends and associates, arranging and providing humanitarian aid to civilians, assisting in evacuations from bombed areas as well as sourcing gear and other supplies for the servicemen, the Territorial Defense Forces. The writer, also a musician, also writes about organizing concerts with his band in the subway where people are sheltering to provide some moments of respite amid the chaos all around.

Zhadan expresses immense pride in the bravery and the resolve displayed by the men and women of his city who chose not to leave despite the constant fear of being annihilated. The author talks about  their efforts to support one another and their attempts to restore a sense of normalcy in their lives -  cleaning debris from the bombarded streets, and opening up shops and markets whenever there is a lull in the attacks, despite food shortages and constant shelling and bombardment.  Zhadan also is effusive in his praise for medical professionals and first responders. He shares heartwarming anecdotes revolving around random acts of kindness, kinship and humanity in the face of war. The author’s tone varies between emotional and deeply personal and reflective to matter-of-fact and irrespective of how devastating the event of the day might have been he concludes most of his posts on a hopeful note with either “Ukrainian flags flutter above the city.” or “Tomorrow, we’ll wake up one day closer to our victory.” Interspersed throughout the text are a handful of photographs that captures the indomitable spirit of the city and its people. This isn’t an overly lengthy book, but it is vivid and informative. This is not a light read but definitely is an important book that I would not hesitate to recommend.

“A Ukrainian defeat in this war will be a defeat for the whole civilized world. Contrarily, a Ukrainian victory will be a testament to the fact that honor, conscience, and responsibility still carry weight in the world.” ( excerpt from the writer’s post on April 6, 2022)

Many thanks to Yale University Press and NetGalley and for the much-appreciated digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released on May 16, 2023.