Looking at Women Looking at War (2025) is a powerful and deeply moving collection of testimonies by Ukrainian women documenting their experiences during Russia’s full-scale invasion. The book was initiated by the Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, who tragically lost her life in a Russian missile strike in Kramatorsk in 2023. At the time of her death, she had finished around 60 percent of the manuscript. 

After her passing, the book was brought to completion with the support of others, including Sasha Dovzhyk, who will present the book and discuss its creation, significance, and the responsibility of memory in times of war with Sebastian Schäffer. They will be joined by Juri Durkot, a journalist, publicist, translator, and producer from Lviv. 

More than a literary achievement, the book stands as a testament to resilience, grief, survival, and resistance. By centering the lived experiences of Ukrainian women, it offers an essential and intimate perspective on the ongoing war. Victoria Amelina was posthumously awarded the UK Orwell Prize. 

Speakers:

Sasha Dovzhyk, Head of INDEX: Institute for Documentation and Exchange, Lviv

Juri Durkot, Journalist, publicist, translator and producer, Lviv 

Moderator:

Sebastian Schäffer, Director, IDM 

Refreshments will be served after the discussion.