Ukrainian literature offers a rich way into the country’s history, culture and identity.

As more Ukrainian works become available in English translation, readers have an expanding range of voices and perspectives to discover. But where to begin?

Here are five books to help get you started. These five books take readers through time and across Ukraine.

They are presented here in acclaimed translations by leading writers, translators, scholars and cultural practitioners.

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Want to support Ukraine? Read its books

1. The City by Valerian Pidmohylnyi (1928)

Translated and introduced by Maxim Tarnawsky in 2025

Originally written in 1927 and published a year later in Kharkiv during Soviet rule, The City became available as a complete English translation for the first time in 2025.

This classic modernist novel is set in the early 1920s in post-revolutionary Kyiv amid rapid industrialisation. Stepan Radchenko, the provincial protagonist, moves to Kyiv to seek his fortune, but a series of events changes him irrevocably and life does not turn out as he had expected.

Pidmohylnyi, a writer and translator, was arrested and incarcerated in 1934. He was shot along with nearly 300 other Ukrainian writers, artists and cultural figures, during mass executions to mark the 20th anniversary of the October Revolution in 1938. The City was banned and did not become available again until Ukraine gained its independence in 1991.

Translated by Halyna Hryn in 2011

This landmark feminist novel was first published in 1996 in Kyiv, five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and during the early years of Ukraine’s independence.

The book immediately caused controversy in Ukrainian society due to its bold portrayal of female sexuality, erotic desire and its feminist critique of gender relations – topics rarely set out in Ukrainian print previously. However, it remained a bestseller in Ukraine for the next decade and is now considered a cult classic.

The novel explores post-colonial Ukraine and Ukrainian identity through the story of a volatile and emotionally abusive love affair between a Ukrainian poet and a troubled artist. Zabuzhko, novelist, poet, essayist and public intellectual, was the recipient of the Shevchenko National Prize in 2019, Ukraine’s highest award for works of art and culture.

Translated by Reilly Costigan-Humes and Isaac Wheeler in 2016

The title Voroshilovgrad is the former Soviet name of Luhansk, the administrative centre of Ukraine’s Luhansk region.

First published in 2010 in Kharkiv, this darkly humorous road novel about a homecoming is set in post-Soviet eastern Ukraine before the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2014. It explores the complexities of memory and identity.

Zhadan is a poet, novelist and rockstar who is currently serving in Ukraine’s armed forces. He was the recipient of the Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thought in 2022.

4. Felix Austria by Sophia Andrukhovych (2014)

Translated and introduced by Vitaly Chernetsky in an edition to be published in January 2027

This historical fiction novel highlights Ukraine’s close connections with western Europe and the challenges of being at the crossroads between empires.

Set at the turn of the 20th century in Stanislaviv (now Ivano-Frankivsk), the story takes place in a city under the rule of the multicultural Habsburg Empire.

It focuses on a complex and intense relationship between two women: Adela, the daughter of the city’s wealthy German doctor, and Stefania, her Ukrainian servant, against a rich backdrop of Ukrainian, Polish, German and Jewish communities.

Edited by Nataliya Shpylova-Saeed, Anastasia Levkova and Askold Melnyczuk. With an introduction by Alim Aliev

This collaborative translation and adaptation is the first anthology of contemporary fiction and poetry by Crimean Tatar writers to be published in English translation.

It delves into the stories of an indigenous people who were deported from their homeland in 1944 by Stalin and only able to begin returning in significant numbers after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The collection also explores life under Russian occupation since 2014 and its consequences.

Together, these five books reveal a Ukraine that is European and multicultural, shaped by successive empires but defined by its own literary traditions.

This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something, The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

For women involved in street sex work who took part in our research, damaged or missing teeth were more than a health problem. They could become visible reminders of lives they were trying to change.

Our study explored the oral-health needs, experiences and priorities of 21 street sex workers in Liverpool. We interviewed participants recruited through community support services and worked with them to create artwork reflecting their experiences, which they then helped us interpret and refine.

The experiences discussed here are those of women involved in survival-based street sex work. This means selling sex during acute hardship, when someone has few realistic alternatives for meeting an immediate need, such as obtaining food, drugs or somewhere to stay.

At the time of the research, all the women were living in temporary accommodation and using at least one drug, with many using several. Drug use was one part of circumstances that also included insecure housing, violence, mental ill health and earlier experiences of neglect and instability.

Crucially, the damage to their teeth could remain after other parts of their lives had changed. Women described how, even after detoxing from drugs, the appearance of their teeth could lead other people to assume they were still using them. For some, restoring their teeth was closely connected with stopping drug use and street sex work, rebuilding family relationships and showing that their lives had moved on.

How women’s teeth became damaged

Participants described childhoods affected by parental substance use, neglect and instability. Some recalled that brushing their teeth or attending a dentist received little attention because their families were struggling to meet more immediate needs.

In adulthood, women linked their deteriorating oral health to overlapping experiences including drug use, diets high in sugar, vomiting and violence. Some said heroin made them crave sugar, while others described developing a dry mouth when using crack cocaine or methadone. Brushing could be forgotten or feel unimportant during periods of heavy drug use. Some women who had already lost several teeth felt there was little point in continuing.

These experiences are consistent with broader evidence. People with substance-use disorders have higher levels of tooth decay and gum disease. Repeated vomiting associated with some eating disorders can erode tooth enamel, while higher sugar consumption is associated with greater tooth decay.

Women in our study described teeth breaking, crumbling or falling out, alongside abscesses and persistent pain. One said teeth had fallen into her hand. Another filed down a sharp, broken tooth with a nail file because it was cutting her tongue.

Poor dental appearance could lead other people to assume that women were using drugs and involved in sex work, reinforcing the stigma attached to both.

Research elsewhere has found similar inequalities. A 2024 clinical study comparing 40 female sex workers with 40 people of a similar age and sex found substantially more missing teeth and tooth decay among the sex workers. A systematic review of international research also identified tooth decay, gum disease and other oral-health problems among sex workers.

These studies cannot show that sex work itself caused the differences. Our participants’ accounts suggest that oral-health problems developed through a combination of disadvantage, disrupted care and experiences that could reinforce one another.

Why treatment remains out of reach

Almost all the women described serious difficulties obtaining the dental care they needed. Long waiting lists, treatment costs, travelling distances and fear of dental treatment could all prevent them from starting or continuing care.

A few said they had lost access to a dentist after missing appointments when their lives were disrupted by crises. When dental pain became unbearable, some used drugs to manage it. Others attempted to treat the problem themselves.

Some frontline services were already available. Participants had encountered a dental bus run by the charity Dentaid, and several had received dental treatment in prison. Women valued being able to obtain care through these routes, but said it often concentrated on emergencies rather than repairing or replacing damaged and missing teeth. Participants reported that more extensive treatment in prison was generally available to women serving longer sentences.

Even receiving dentures did not always resolve the problem. Women living in hostels said dentures could be lost or stolen.

This helps explain why oral-health problems could persist when someone stopped using drugs or left street sex work. Emergency treatment might relieve immediate pain, but changing the appearance and function of badly damaged teeth could require several appointments and continuing care that remained difficult to obtain.

Making dental care more accessible

Our findings support outreach, drop-in clinics and mobile dental services, particularly when they work with community organisations that women already know and trust. These services need pathways into continuing treatment so that patients can have damaged or missing teeth repaired or replaced.

Practical support can also help people remember appointments, rearrange them during crises and travel to treatment. Previous UK research with professionals supporting street sex workers found that flexible services and partnerships with trusted organisations were better able to meet people’s healthcare needs.

Dental professionals can contribute by providing care without judgment and recognising that previous trauma may make treatment frightening or difficult. A review of oral healthcare for people who have experienced trauma describes ways practitioners can help patients feel safer and retain more control, although further research is needed to establish which approaches work best.

Participants wanted care that would allow them to eat, speak and live without persistent dental pain. They also wanted their appearance to reflect the changes they were making elsewhere in their lives, instead of continuing to identify them with circumstances they were trying to leave behind.

Sir Ian Bauckham, head of Ofqual, told PA: “If we can get more people to gain good qualifications, and we’re talking here particularly about that grade 4 threshold that is so widely recognised, then there will be more opportunities for the young people that have those qualifications.

He reassured fans his surgery went well and last month has “been at home, recuperating, recovering and resting and getting some post-op treatment as well”.

He added that he feels “great right now” and “ready to come back”.

“I feel energised and almost back to myself, yes I’ve had a really serious situation but I’ve come out the other side at this point and I feel great. I feel raring to go and I feel in good health.”

Dan Knowles, chief executive at the charity Brain Tumour Research, external, said: “Every day, 35 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour.

“We thank Trevor for sharing his diagnosis and treatment, helping to raise awareness of this disease and the impact it has on families across the UK. We are thinking of him and wishing him well as he navigates this journey.”

The father-of-two said he is back to doing things he enjoys like playing golf and going to the gym.

He urged fans not to worry about him and thanked everyone for their love and support.

Nelson, who presents a weekday afternoon show on Radio 2 and appears on 1Xtra late on a Sunday morning, celebrated 30 years at the BBC earlier this year.

Pubs, theatres and even the courts have also imposed restrictions on the AI-powered technology

Many cinemas across the country have made the decision to ban or impose restrictions on Meta smart glasses due to growing concerns over film piracy.

The crackdown, led by the UK Cinema Association (UKCA), follows similar constraints recently adopted by theatre venues and pub operators nationwide.

“UK cinema operators are aware of the increasing availability and use of wearable technology such as smart glasses,” a UKCA spokesman said, acknowledging the accessibility benefits the devices offer to users with specific needs.

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They continued: “However, they are also mindful of the issues around privacy and film piracy that arise around the use of such technology in cinemas, and as a result many are introducing policies to prohibit and/or restrict the wearing of camera-enabled smart glasses in particular in their venues.

“This is clearly a developing area, and we will continue to work with our members to ensure their approach remains relevant and proportionate.”

This move by the UKCA marks the latest pushback against the rapid spread of camera-integrated eyewear.

Major pub chains, including Wetherspoons, have already signalled that recording inside their establishments is strictly prohibited.

Meta first started selling Meta glasses in 2021 but has seen demand grow in recent years on the back of partnership with brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, with around seven million pairs sold last year.

The technology company, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it recognises that films should not be recorded without authorisation.

A Meta spokeswoman said: “People use our glasses because they’re helpful and let them stay in the moment, from listening to music to live translation or hands-free calls.

“They also provide critical new technology for people in the blind and low vision community and limiting how people can use this technology would be a major step backwards.”

They added: “Naturally some places shouldn’t be filmed at all and that’s reasonable but rules should be applied consistently.”

Stephen Lee Hallmark, now 28, was 27 when he met the then 13-year-old girl in Bolton, first through Facebook in late 2025 and then via Snapchat.

Bolton Crown Court heard how, despite knowing her age, he went on to sexually abuse the girl, leaving her with lasting trauma.

In a victim impact statement read in court, the girl said: “Since what happened to me, I feel like my life has been destroyed.

“I don’t think I will ever fully heal from what happened.

“I’m constantly questioning myself and being tormented by flashbacks. I struggle to do anything now without it constantly being on my mind.

“I don’t like leaving the house without my mum or dad.

“I hate looking at myself in the mirror or in the shower because it’s a reminder that he’s touched my body, and I also struggle with nightmares and sleeping because I just can’t stop thinking and replaying everything.

“One of the hardest things for me has been grieving the person I thought Ste was.”

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Phil Taylor)

Hallmark groomed the girl online over several weeks, falsely claiming to be just 20 while he was actually 27 and persuading her to tell her family he was only 15.

When asked in a police interview why he lied about his age, Hallmark said: “I didn’t want her to think I was an old b*****d.”

Despite knowing the child’s age, Hallmark arranged to meet her in person.

The sexual abuse began when they first met at the girl’s home , and continued during three further meetings.

Stephen Hallmark has been jailed (Image: GMP)

Hallmark was arrested and interviewed on February 21, 2026.

During the investigation, Hallmark tried to discourage the girl from speaking to police, telling her to “go no comment” and threatening to kill himself if she disclosed what had happened.

In her victim impact statement, the girl said: “Having to realise that it was wrong and that it wasn’t love, just lies, makes me feel weak and gullible for believing him.

“Even though I know it, I still question whether he ever loved me.

“He made me believe that I was the only person who genuinely cared about him, and he would tell me about how bad his life had been and how I made it better and meant everything to him.

“This made me not want to say anything because I felt like it would make his life worse again and like I would be hurting him by getting him into trouble.”

She added: “He has taken something away from me that I can never get back.

“I opened up to him and was vulnerable with him because I genuinely thought he loved and cared about me.

“I still struggle with the fact that I believed his lies, and it’s made me question people and even myself.

“Even when the case is over, what happened to me will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Brought before the court, Hallmark, of Allington Street, Liverpool, confessed to meeting a girl under 16 following grooming.

He also admitted to four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child aged 13 to 15.

This week, the Honorary Recorder for Bolton, Judge Nicholas Clarke KC, jailed Hallmark for six years and handed him a 15-year sexual harm prevention order with a 15-year restraining order.

Hallmark will also be on the sex offenders register for life.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Alex Dibden, of Bolton’s Child Protection Investigation Unit, said: “I want to thank the survivor for bravely coming forward and supporting our investigation.

“She has shown immense courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

“Stephen Hallmark exploited a child for his own sexual gratification after deliberately establishing contact with her online and arranging a series of meetings, despite knowing she was only 13 years old.

“Even after his offending came to light, he attempted to manipulate the teenager and discourage her from speaking to police.

“Thanks to the survivor’s courage and the evidence gathered during our investigation, Hallmark has now been held accountable for his actions.

“This case should serve as a reminder to parents and carers to have regular conversations with young people about their online activity.

“Offenders can use social media and messaging platforms to build trust, manipulate children and arrange contact in the real world.

“If you have concerns about a child’s online activity or believe they may be at risk of exploitation, please report it to police.”

The multi-platinum artist has announced three shows in the UK and Ireland in 2027

Noah Kahan has announced three shows in Ireland and the UK as part of a new world tour next year.

The multi-platinum artist has revealed he will be playing in Dublin, London and Glasgow as part of his The Last of the Bugs World Tour in 2027.

This will see him play at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on July 13th, followed by Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on July 17th, before culminating with a landmark performance at London’s Wembley Stadium on July 23rd. The show in Wembley will be the largest show so far in his career.

Fans can sign up now for access to the artist presale, with registration closing August 24 at 5pm. The artist presale begins August 25 at 10am local time, followed by the general on-sale on August 28 at 10am local time. For more information and to sign up for presale access, visit noahkahan.com/pages/tour.

The announcement comes following a huge year for Kahan, who is currently on the North American leg of his The Great Divide World Tour. At the weekend he played for more than 56,000 fans at a sold-out Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA, where he brought out Chappell Roan as a surprise special guest to duet her song “California”.

The tour has seen more than 1.5million tickets sold across the globe. It will be coming to arenas across Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and Europe this Autumn.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

NEW YORK (AP) — The pilot of a speedboat that capsized during a tour around the Statue of Liberty, drowning an infant and her mother, has been arrested by U.S. immigration authorities who say he was in the country illegally.

Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, who has a pending federal criminal case in connection with the Aug. 8 crash, lied to a border officer and falsely claimed he was a U.S. citizen when he entered the country in Texas in 2007, the Department of Homeland Security said Monday.

Hernandez-Umana, 46, a citizen of El Salvador, is being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, according to online records. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he will eventually be deported.

Immigration authorities arrested him after he was released on bail in his criminal case, where he is charged with causing the deaths of 5-month old Antonella Garcia and 27-year-old Sara Sanchez through misconduct or neglect.

According to prosecutors, Hernandez-Umana wasn’t licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard, wasn’t aware of basic safety rules and told investigators he’d borrowed his friend’s personal vessel for the New York Harbor excursion. The boat was illegally chartered and overcrowded, prosecutors said.

“Once he faces justice for his crimes, we will make sure that he is swiftly removed from our country,” Mullin said in a statement.

Hernandez-Umana’s lawyer, Amy Gallicchio, declined comment.

Hernandez, who had been living in Manville, New Jersey, was not required to enter a plea at his initial court appearance in the criminal case on Aug. 10. He wiped his eyes as he arrived to the courtroom, still wearing the T-shirt, swim trunks and water shoes he’d had on during the voyage. He is due back in court on Sept. 9.

According to Coast Guard investigators, Hernandez was piloting a 21-foot Yamaha AR210 with 14 people aboard — well over its 10 person capacity — when it swamped and sank as it made a U-turn in choppy waters. The tour began around 7 p.m. and the vessel capsized more than three hours into its journey.

The infant wasn’t wearing a life preserver because the boat didn’t have any for small children, prosecutors said. Instead, Hernandez told Sanchez she needed to wear a life vest and hold the infant throughout the hourslong tour, a violation of federal regulations, prosecutors said.

The tour was organized through Zeus Luxury Rental Inc., which advertises its services on social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok. A boat chartered by the company caught fire last year during a birthday cruise on Long Island Sound.