The Ukrainian programme at the
Leipzig Book Fair
Ukraine will be represented at the Leipzig Book Fair from 27 to 30 March 2025 with its own stand (no. D309, hall 4). This year’s programme focuses on the resilience of Ukrainian literature, the challenges of war for Europe and Ukrainian society, and the history and experiences of the Crimean Tatars.
New publications & invited authors
The book by human rights activist and former political prisoner Maksym Butkevych, ‘In the Right Place – A Ukrainian Peace Activist in the Time of War’, and the latest work by journalist and soldier Pavlo Kazarin, ‘Wild West of Eastern Europe’, will be presented at the book fair. Another highlight is the book presentation about the Crimean Tatar human rights activist Mustafa Dzhemilev, accompanied by Alim Aliyev and Sevil Musayeva. In addition, the new German translation of Viktoria Amelina’s book ‘Looking at Women Looking at War’ will be presented – she was killed in a Russian missile attack in 2023.
Other new publications:
- The Voices of Babyn Yar by Marianna Kijanowska
- Donetsk Girl by Tamara Duda
Among the most important speakers on the Ukrainian stage are:
- Maksym Butkevych (human rights activist, former political prisoner)
- Iryna Tsilyk (writer, director)
- Stanislaw Aseyev (journalist, writer, former political prisoner)
- Oksana Zabuzhko (writer)
- Pavlo Kazarin (journalist, author)
The complete programme can be found on the website of the Goethe Institute in Ukraine goethe.de
The Ukrainian Institute in Germany co-organised the following events
27th of March
10:15 – 11:00, Hall 4, Stand D309
Opening of the Ukraine stand and keynote input from Maksym Butkevych
‘Ukraine. Regaining a Voice’
Participants:
- Astrid Böhmisch, Director of the Leipzig Book Fair
- Claudia Roth, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media
- Dr Skadi Jennicke, Deputy Mayor for Culture
- Andreas Handschuh, Head of the Saxon State Chancellery
Moderation: Dr Kateryna Rietz-Rakul
15:00 – 15:50, Hall 4, Stand D309
Opportunities for publishers and translators of Ukrainian literature abroad
28th of March
2:20 – 3:00 p.m., Stage ARD / ZDF / 3Sat Book Fair
European Literature During the War. Culture of Resistance or Resistance of Culture.
Participants:
- Natalka Sniadanko, Ukrainian writer and journalist
- Oksana Zabuzhko, Ukrainian writer
- Taina Tervonen, French-Finnish freelance journalist
Moderation: Sheila Behjat (Spuren im Osten, ARTE). The discussion is organised by the Institut Français.
15:30 – 16:20, Hall 4, Stand D309
Meeting with the author Pavlo Kazarin and presentation of the German edition of his book ‘The Wild West of Eastern Europe. The Ukrainian Way out of the Empire’.
Moderation: Vladimir Balzer
Language: German, Ukrainian
29th of March
11:00 – 12:00, Café Europa
Crimea: Voices of the Unyielding. Book presentation ‘Mustafa Dzhemilev’ with Alim Aliev, Sevil Musayeva and Andre Stöhr
Moderation: Franziska Davies
11:30 – 12:20, Hall 4, Stand D309
Rediscovered Jewel from 1932: Discussion with Christian Ruzicska, Yaryna Tsymbal and Johannes Queck about Mike Johannsen
12.00- 12.45, Café Europa
‘Why we have learned nothing from history’. Discussion with Oksana Zabuzhko and Natascha Freundel
Language: English
15.30 – 16.20, Hall 4, Stand D309
The Black Sea: Border, Myth and Reality. Discussion with Wilfried Jilge, Pavlo Kazarin, Alim Aliev and Nikolai Klimeniouk.
Moderation: Franziska Davies
Language: German, Ukrainian
30th of March
Reclaiming History. Decoloniality and Art in post-1991 Ukraine with Kateryna Botanova and Lada Nakonechna.
Moderation: Dr Kateryna Rietz-Rakul
Language: English
Partners
The Ukrainian programme was organised and curated by: the Ukrainian Book Institute, the Goethe-Institut Ukraine, the Ukrainian Institute, the Mystetskyj Arsenal, the Meridian Czernowitz, Institut Français, the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, and translit e. V.
The Ukraine Stage and its programme are funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), the Saxon State Chancellery and the City of Leipzig. Parts of the programme are supported by the Federal Agency for Civic Education and translit e.V.