Five of the best recent books from Ukraine

Recently translated works by Ukrainian poets and novelists contemplate domestic life, language, economics, culture and violence in the country

‘Why read Ukrainian poets or any poets in translation for that matter?” wrote poet Ilya Kaminsky in March 2022, weeks after Russia escalated its war on Ukraine. “Because if we don’t read poets in translation, we end up looking in the mirror 24/7.”

These recently translated works by Ukrainian poets and novelists contemplate domestic life, language, economics, culture and violence in the country. Though many were written before 2022, all reach forward into the present, offering resonant snapshots of a country beset by war.