As the year 2023 began, a tense moment unfolded in Kiev when planes and artillery marked the dawn of a conflict that had already displaced families. A renowned Ukrainian novelist and thinker, Andrey Kurkov, who has spent recent years in the United States while continuing his teaching role at a prestigious university, joined a roundtable at the Dénia Humanities Festival to discuss the war that has shaped his life as a refugee. He has also documented his experiences in a work titled Diary of an Invasion, which compiles observations since February 2022.
More than a year has passed since the outbreak of the war. How has life evolved for you?
In the early days of the conflict, Kurkov and his wife remained together in Kiev, while their children were in Lviv. They eventually moved toward the east, seeking shelter with friends, and then cross-border arrangements led them to Slovakia before continuing their journey. Their eldest son traveled with them at the border, while the younger son chose to stay in Kiev, spending the war at home in the heart of the city. The family endured near misses, with explosions occurring within striking distance of their home. By June, they left Ukraine and began an itinerant period through France and Germany, ultimately relocating to the United States in January, where Kurkov joined Stanford University as a lecturer in California.
Are you considering a return in the near future?
There is hope for a return. The plan is for his wife to travel to Kiev in May and for him to join in June. Life in Ukraine has continued, with vibrant social scenes like bars and cinemas drawing crowds despite the surrounding turmoil.
Is the transition to a nomadic life taking a toll?
The experience has been intensely stressful. At 61, the upheaval has demanded remarkable resilience and energy, forcing Kurkov to remain highly active in ways that were unimaginable before the war.
He attended the Festival de les Humanitats de Dénia to discuss the war at a roundtable.
Since the onset of hostilities, Kurkov has published numerous articles, totaling around seventy pieces that analyze the situation. He argues that the conflict rests on three decisive elements: first, an imperial ambition to regain control of Ukraine; second, an assault on Ukrainian identity that seems to echo the long-standing struggle between Russia and Ukraine; and third, geopolitics. He contends that Russia seeks to assimilate Ukrainian society and suppress its culture, with Putin identifying Peter the Great as a model he wishes to emulate.
What is the third factor in this analysis?
Geopolitics. The conflict is portrayed as a clash between Russia and the Western alliance. Putin has framed the struggle as not against Ukraine or its people, but against the United States and NATO. The situation broadly resembles a modern conflict with global implications, where Ukrainian forces are supplied with NATO weapons and equipment.
What is his short-term outlook for the near future?
Kurkov predicts a dramatic six-month period. He expects a Ukrainian counteroffensive within weeks that could unfold over several months, potentially into autumn. If Ukrainian forces manage to reclaim territory, the front line might stabilize near the border for an extended period, though there is no certainty that Russia will refrain from renewed aggression.
He recently published Diary of an Invasion, a work that blends diary entries with essay-style reflections. What motivated this project? Is he primarily a writer or a citizen of Ukraine?
This is the second diary the author has kept in his life. He has maintained diaries since adolescence, but this volume blends personal narrative with civic perspective. It serves as both a diary and a thoughtful examination of war, combining his literary sensibility with his Ukrainian citizenship. The text acts as a personal witness to events while addressing broader questions about conflict and memory.
Ukrainians are often described as anarchists by nature.
Has Ukraine become Europe’s Ithaca?
From Kurkov’s viewpoint, Ukraine has become a symbolic homeland for its people. He notes that cultural and historical differences shape attitudes on both sides of the boundary. He identifies himself as ethnically Russian but culturally Ukrainian, explaining that allegiance to a country can be defined by the culture one lives in rather than by blood. He highlights contrasts in social temperament, suggesting that Ukrainians tend to act with a readiness to protest, while Russians often emphasize stability and collective thinking. He argues that the war has targeted Ukrainian cultural institutions, including museums and theaters, as part of a broader effort to erode national identity.
Does using the Russian language pose a challenge in this context?
Kurkov notes that Russian remains his mother tongue. He recalls how, in the Soviet era, speaking Ukrainian could carry stigma. He emphasizes that language is a key cultural element in conflicts. In Ukraine, libraries and cultural heritage were damaged in occupied areas, and his own book is restricted in those regions. He has stated he will not publish Diary of an Invasion in Russian until the war ends.
“It will take ten years to overcome the hatred of all things Russian”
What is the future of the Russian language in Ukraine?
Before the war, roughly 40 percent of the population spoke Russian; today about 30 percent do, and the trend suggests a continued decline. Ukrainian booksellers prefer works in Ukrainian, even when authored locally. Kurkov reflects on personal experiences with language and memory and notes that Russians who support the war are often silent. He recounts how, as a child, he rejected his mother tongue alongside a difficult memory of German language learning. He believes Russian culture has become less relevant to many Ukrainians, and he points to propaganda that supports the Russian military as evidence of the ongoing struggle over narrative and identity.
Has the war altered Kurkov’s writing style?
Yes, the war has reshaped his approach. He has shifted away from fiction to confront contemporary realities, carrying an unfinished novel on his journeys. His ongoing work now centers on the subject of conflict and its impacts, reflecting a new convergence of literary craft with civic witness.