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What do words become in times of war? How does poetry take shape on the front line? And what price do Ukrainian artists pay today for the freedom to live, to create, and to defend their country?

Ukrainian poet and soldier Yaryna Chornohuz, a member of the 140th Marine Reconnaissance Battalion, stands as one of the most compelling cultural voices in contemporary Ukraine. A frontline poet whose work is deeply shaped by lived experience, she has been widely recognised for both her artistic and military service. Her honours include:

• The Shevchenko National Prize (2024) for her poetry collection dasein: defense of presence
• The Medal for Lifesaving (Ukraine) (2022)
• A 2020 literary award from the Smoloskyp publishing house for her collection Як вигинається воєнне коло (“How the War Circle Bends”) 

In conversation with Clare‑based author Greg Dinner, Yaryna will reflect on the power of language in wartime, the role of poetry as testimony and resistance, and the lived experience of those who navigate the front lines with both words and weapons.

The evening will also feature readings from her latest book, “dasein: defense of presence”, recently published by Jantar Publishing.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event, with an opportunity to receive a personalised autograph from the author.

Join us for an unforgettable encounter with a voice that speaks from the front lines; both of war and of contemporary Ukrainian literature.

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