By Zita Bereuter
February 22, 2022 is written in the DNA of Ukrainians. The day of the Russian invasion. Ukrainians remember the Russian invasion very well. But they also remember their lives, their everyday life during the war.
“Personal narratives are often overlooked in historiography, but they still give us a different kind of access, a more nuanced and emotional understanding of what most historians, journalists and authors seek: the truth. Facts are important and indisputable, while individual experiences can never be completely objective or provide a complete picture of the political situation from which they arise. But personal stories reveal other facets of the truth and are therefore an important part of it”, writes Nora Krug in the preface to her book “In War”. Igort and “Like a ray of light in the darkness” – published by Aurélie Bros aim to bring you closer to this truth.
Penguin
Nora Krug: In war. Two illustrated diaries from Kiev and St. Petersburg – translated by Alexander Weber, Nora Krug were published by Penguin.
These diaries also appeared in magazines. The LA Times series was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
In 2018, Nora Krug published “Heimat. A German family album.” This became school reading in Germany.
Nora Krug: In war. Two illustrated diaries from Kiev and St. Petersburg
The idea is as simple as it is great – illustrator and author Nora Krug shows a diary from Ukraine and one from Russia over the course of a year. At the beginning of the war, she wrote to a Ukrainian journalist and a Russian artist with this idea. She only met them both through an online contact. They both agreed immediately. On the left you can see the world of K – a journalist living in Kiev, Ukraine. On the right is D – an artist living in St. Petersburg.
Every week they describe their daily life, their thoughts, but also the psychological or physical consequences, or how the war changed their personal relationships. Blocks of handwritten text interspersed with illustrations, reduced in pastel tones.
In week 1, K writes in Ukraine: “There is a railway line outside my window. Every thirty minutes I see trains full of civilians going west and trains full of tanks going east.”
At the same time, D in Russia notes, “I'm just trying to find a way to leave the country. We have two children (nine and ten) and a dog. I'm the only one of us who has a passport and visa.
The following year, D thinks about where he could emigrate.
K brings his children and mother from Ukraine to Denmark and regularly reports from the war zone as a journalist. And in difficult circumstances: “Now we have to survive without electricity for an average of twelve hours a day: four hours in the morning, four in the afternoon and four at night.”
K's energy and drive are impressive: “But war drives me to work harder and harder. Like Alice in Wonderland, I have to run as fast as I can just to stay in the same place.”
With these eyewitness accounts, Nora Krug shows a personal, everyday level of war. The mutual voices of Ukraine and Russia raise awareness about the war – which is both moving and shocking.
Elisabeth Sandmann Verlag
“Like a ray of light in the darkness” letters from Ukrainian women to the free world – edited by Aurélie Bros were published by Elisabeth Sandmann Verlag
Aurélie Bros (HG): Like a ray of light in the darkness. Letters from Ukrainian women to the free world
Martial law has been in effect in Ukraine since the Russian invasion. This means, among other things, that men aged between 18 and 60 can be called up for military service at any time. This is why they are not allowed to leave the country. Women in Ukraine face the difficult question of whether to leave the country. Scientist Aurélie Bros knows that this is not easy: “You asked yourself a thousand questions. For example: is it legitimate for a mother to separate her children from their father? And if so, for how long? What takes priority: grandparents who cannot leave the country because they are sick? Or the children who need a safe place?”
It is not easy for any woman to leave Ukraine. Aurélie Bros offers a stage to 38 women – from young girls to elderly women, they write letters about their experiences in war. About his escape from Ukraine. About how they are abroad. What they miss, what they dream about. There are also photos of each woman in the book – professional black and white images of confident-looking women.
The photos are also by Kristina Parioti, who also wrote a letter. In it, the young woman from Mariupol, now 22, tells how she had to hide in a basement with her mother and brother for weeks. How the three finally escape in a car with a neighbor and her son. A week later they arrive in Germany. Meanwhile, her boyfriend Pavlo is already in the army. “In May, I learned that he had been captured by the Russian army. And he was locked in a prison. I was scared when this prison was bombed at the end of July 2022 and more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers were killed.” At the end of November she receives a call from Pavlo's mother. “She says, 'Pavlo is alive.' He came to Ukraine as part of a prisoner exchange. “Pavlo texted me that day and asked, 'Do you remember me?' And at that moment I felt butterflies in my stomach.”
Kristina and Pavlo are already married. However, Kristina is still in Germany, while Pavlo is in Ukraine.
With her letter in the book, which she wrote before her marriage, she wants to tell people in the West about her feelings during the war and support those “who are going through hell”.
reproduction
“Reports from Ukraine 2 – Diary of an Invasion” by Igort – translated from Italian by Myriam Alfano – was published by Reprodukt.
Igort: Reports from Ukraine 2. Diary of an invasion
Italian comic artist Igort lived in Ukraine for several years. Even before the invasion, he wrote the comic strip “Reports from Ukraine. Memories of the times of the USSR”. It's mainly about the Holodomor, the war on hunger. After the Russian invasion on February 22, 2022, he was in constant contact with people from Ukraine, as he writes in the preface: “The phone has been ringing non-stop for days. siege. People who would never have dreamed of being in the spotlight. People who lived completely normal lives.
He talks about Maksim, for example. The 27-year-old Ukrainian actually lives in Belgium and came to Ukraine in February 2022 for the funeral of his mother – who died from Covid. “He wanted to see his family again. Now he is in prison and asks us for an invitation letter so he can leave. But the airports are all closed.” Maksim can no longer return to Belgium and has to join the army.
People tell Igort that there are no more medicines. Not even for people. Especially not for animals. And there's no more salt either. The older ones bought it. They know from previous wars that at some point food no longer tastes like anything.
As with all his reports, Igort also provides information on the background and facts of Ukrainian history – such as the occupation of Crimea. These drawings, sketches and texts are like a large mosaic with many small stones. The picture is still fragmentary – but you can get an idea of the deprivation, the mistreatment by Russian soldiers, the fear and terror that characterize everyday life.
That's close. Get stuck. Power affected. And he underlines the quote with which Igort prefaced the book: “A war is always just a dirty war. No heroes, no glory, just misery.”