Ukraine Diaries

by Andrey Kurkov, Sam Taylor (Translator)

Kurkov's diaries begin on the first day of the pro-European protests in November 2013, and describe the violent clashes in the Maidan, the impeachment of Yanukovcyh, Russia's annexation of Crimea and the separatist uprisings in the east of Ukraine. Going beyond the headlines, they give vivid insight into what it's like to live through - and try to make sense of - times of intense political unrest.

Genres: Ukraine, Nonfiction, History, Politics, Russia, War, Travel

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Andrey Kurkov is a Russian and Ukrainian writer who writes in Russian (fiction) and Ukrainian (non-fiction).

Kurkov was born in the small town of Budogoszcz, Russia, on April 23, 1961. When he was young, his family moved to Kyiv, Ukraine. In 1983 Kurkov graduated from the Kyiv Pedagogical Academy of Foreign Languages and later also completed a training in Japanese translation.

Among Kurkov's most famous Russian novels are 'Smert postoronnego' (1996, translated into English in 2001 under the title 'Death and the Penguin') and 'Zakon ulitki' (2002, translated into English in 2005 as 'Penguin lost)'. Kurkov's only Ukrainian non-fiction book is 'Ruh "Emanus": istoriya solidarnosti' (2017).

Reviews

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

The diaries cover the period from November 2013 until 2017 describing the dramatic events of the Euromaidan protests, the annexation of Crimea by Russia, and the beginning of the military conflict in the Donbas, the Anti-terrorist operation and the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shot down by the Russian-backed forces.
I remember all these events clearly but it was important to read this chronicle written by someone who was inside the country, winessed all these historic events and can provide a unique personal lens to the narrative. Although the diaries do not give an extremely deep analysis of the events, they certainly help to understand Ukraine’s tumultuous political landscape at the time and the complexities of Ukraine’s struggle for democracy and independence which is still continuing on the battlefield.

The author tries to maintain an optimistic outlook (it is so natural) and, indeed, many Ukrainians believed that Ukraine had already paid a high price for the freedom in 2014-2015 and had broken away from the bloodthirsty neighbour from the East and is on the way to stability in a different system of coordinates... How much will this heroic country have to sacrifice for its right to exist and choose its own way?

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

In late October 2012, a Ukrainian friend of mine told me a joke.

“Mike”, he said, “Putin goes to predictor. Yes?”
“…Yes. Predictor, sure.”
“Putin says, ‘say me please, what will happen in ten years?’ Predictor says, ‘there will be war with Ukraine.’”
“Hmm.”
“Putin says, ‘oh. It is not interesting. Say me please, how much will hamburger in Moscow cost in fifteen years?’ Predictor says, ‘…ten hryvnia.’”

I laughed at the joke (hryvnia, by the way, is Ukrainian currency), felt vaguely unsettled by what I, as an American, interpreted as its bellicose nationalism (after all, I was not a supporter of the Russian government, but surely there wouldn't be a war), and then forgot it. Looking back on myself at that time, which was only a half-decade ago, I come to a strange conclusion: I didn’t really believe that things happened. I didn’t phrase it to myself that way, of course, wasn’t conscious of it, but I was missing some sense of the essential volatility and transience of all things. I thought of life as eternity; and when earlier that year I walked around the city of Donetsk with my friend Paul, I believed that I would be able to go back there as many times as I wanted. An infinite amount of times, perhaps. Moreover, I’m almost certain that I haven’t really and truly learned the lesson.

A little over a year later, of course, I realized that the joke had been in some sense true. Yanukovych refused to sign the EU association agreement, a young journalist named Mustafa Nayeem called on his Facebook friends to join him at Maidan Nezalezhnosti in the center of Kyiv, and the rest is history.

Or not exactly. There has been so much disinformation about what happened during those months that it’s valuable to read a subjective account (and hopefully Kurkov’s won’t be the only one translated into English). It contains many of the pleasures of reading someone’s informal letters, including a lot of humor. Mikolayev, for example, is described as “a peaceful mafia town of drug addicts and medium-sized companies.”

But above all, it’s valuable to learn how one intelligent, observant person was thinking of the events taking place at the time. If the fact that Kurkov was born in St. Petersburg and speaks Russian fluently debunks for readers some of the sillier but pernicious myths about cultural division in Ukraine, all the better. Take the book for what it is, and remember what Orwell wrote towards the end of Homage to Catalonia: "beware of all accounts of the Spanish Civil War, including my own..." Kurkov feels justifiable pride in his country for the accomplishment of Maidan, but it is not an uncomplicated or unworried pride, nor the devotion of blind allegiance. He has a nightmare about Tymoshenko, who has just been released from prison:

Yesterday, Tymoshenko said she had no intention of withdrawing her candidacy and that she was already supporting Poroshenko enough by constantly buying his sweets…After that, I had an awful dream: on President Tymoshenko’s orders, the members of Pravy Sektor were being arrested in the middle of the night, and those who managed to escape took refuge in the forest. Tymoshenko had full powers, in spite of a return to the 2004 constitution, and her prime minister- completely under her control- turned obediently whenever she yelled ‘Hey!’ at him.

He worries about how all of this revolutionary energy will be used, now that the revolution has (tentatively) been won, how its gains will be safeguarded and built upon, and offers what I think is a very perceptive insight into Putin’s motivations:

Thousands of Maidanistas and members of the self-defense have already begun military training. When the radio announces this news, the sense that war is imminent is only intensified. Before, the news was bad, focusing on sad events. Now it is bellicose and full of enthusiasm…
The fact is, though, that revolution radicalises normal citizens, and- once radicalised- those citizens hardly seem accountable for their own actions. We need time. The country needs a period of calm, like all convalescents. But there is no calm, for the moment, because next door to us is Putin, who…will do all he can to prove to the people of Russia that a government cannot be changed through revolution…

And later, after the annexation of Crimea,

Putin has to find a way to make Europe and the United States accept the annexation. There is only one way…foment a civil war in Ukraine and encourage pro-Russian activists- armed, of course- to march on Kyiv…

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this diary, Russian-Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov relates his day-to-day experience of living through the Euromaidan demonstrations in Ukraine in 2014. He adopts a very matter of fact tone throughout the book; nonetheless you get a real sense of the insecurity and uncertainty that he, and other Ukrainiens, lived through at the time. On the one hand, there is the hope that the demonstrations will lead to real political change but on the other hand, he gives expression to the ever-present fear of a slide into civil war and/or a Russian invasion. Kurkov being Kurkov, he injects his diary entries with sarcastic wit, pointing out the absurdities of the actions and positions taken by political actors - he is at his particular best when he discusses the administrative implications of the annexation of Crimea by Russia or when he aims his arrows at former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko. The overall tone though of the book is dark and despondent.

Most strikingly, Kurkov ends the book with an observation that has, unfortunately, proven prescient: "Europe, so vociferous in her support during the Maidan protests, has subsequently fallen silent and walked away, preferring to profit from trade with Russia. Money matters more than democracy. This cynical lesson that Europe has taught Ukraine will inevitably influence the future of my country. Which means that it will influence my own future. Ultimately, it will influence the future of Europe herself - the future of the entire European Union"

[Kalina Stamatova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book on a recent trip in Ukraine. It was surprisingly hard to find Ukrainian books in English there, so this one was kind of a compromise. Don't know if I would have bought it, had I had more of a choice, but I ended up loving it.
It's a great bit of prose, and one that helps you better understand how the Euromaidan unfolded. I'd actually say the book gives an insight into the Ukrainian psyche that would otherwise be hard to obtain (especially given the lack of English translations of Ukrainian authors).
The book (combined with the Chernobyl series I started watching around the same time) made me go down some weird Ukrainian rabbit hole and with the recent elections, I'm definitely keeping an eye on Ukraine and its politics.

[Vishy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read something topical after the unbelievable happenings of the last week, and I decided to read Andrey Kurkov's 'Ukraine Diaries : Dispatches from Kiev'. Kurkov is one of the great contemporary Ukrainian writers and his novels are widely translated and read and well acclaimed. I loved his book 'A Matter of Death and Life' which I read last year. Kurkov wrote two books about the happenings in 2013-14 in Ukraine, which are called the 'Maidan protests' and the surrounding events. One of them is the novel, 'Grey Bees'. The second one is this, 'Ukraine Diaries'. I decided to read 'Ukraine Diaries' first.

'Ukraine Diaries' covers a period of nearly five months. It has an entry for nearly every day, and Kurkov describes the Maidan protests and the surrounding events in the way he observed them and experienced them. He also talks about his own life and his family and friends. So, in a sense, this book is an extract from his diaries of that period, and it is about his own life.

Kurkov's writing is quite fascinating. He follows the golden rule, 'Show don't tell'. So we see events as they unfold and we observe the complexities of Ukrainian politics and its crazy corrupt leaders and the corrupt judicial system which typically is in the government's pocket. We learn how Russia keeps meddling constantly in Ukrainian affairs and how some Ukrainian politicians themselves are compliant in it. We also see how the protestors start with a noble aim, and how things end up in violence. A part of the book also talks about Russia's annexation of Crimea. It was surreal to read that part, because it mirrors exactly what is happening today – the Russian government calling the Ukrainian government fascists, then saying that the Ukrainian people have to be saved from their government, then starting a 'peaceful' special operation and sending in tanks and armed forces and taking over the territory. In the case of Crimea, there was one difference when compared to the present situation. Crimea, it appears, was a kind of semi-autonomous region within Ukraine, and the Crimean parliament voted to secede from Ukraine. Once they did that, the Russian 'peacekeeping' forces rolled in with their tanks. Russia, of course, has tried repeating this 'peaceful' special operation across Ukraine now, but unfortunately for them, things haven't gone as planned, as Ukrainians have resisted this and have fought back. The Russian version of the current bombings and bloodbath that they have started is that the 'peacekeeping' is going well, but the crazy Ukrainian civilians are taking guns and shooting at each other and the Western media is lying by posting pictures from computer games. More on this later.

One of the things I loved about the book is Kurkov's sense of humour. Though the book is about serious events, Kurkov's humour, which is sometimes dark like the Coen brothers' kind, shines throughout the book and makes us laugh. For example, this one.

"This morning, the weather forecast on Ren-TV, as well as other Russian television channels, included Crimea, Donbas and Kharkiv in their meteorological map of Russia. I realise that a political map is generally used for these things, but surely it should be one recognised by other countries. Presumably this map is Putin’s personal map, giving a clear vision of how he sees Russia’s future. Or is the aim to prepare the Russian population for the coming occupations of Ukrainian territory? In that case, I will have to pay more attention to Russian weather forecasts in future, to check that Kiev, Warsaw, Riga and Vilnius are not included in their maps."

And this one.

"I am increasingly convinced that the entire Ukrainian legal system has not only entered the shadowlands, like the country’s economy, but has sunk into a deeper darkness. There are more and more legal judgments made in the middle of the night, when the country is supposed to be asleep. If the judges who are working nights are sleeping during the day, we can be somewhat reassured as to their mental health. But if they are working twenty-four hours a day, it has to be doubted whether they can even remember the judgments they made one hour earlier. And anyway, as has been proved on several occasions by journalists, judges have been handed judgments written in advance without their agreement, already unsealed and signed. This is, in any case, how they deal with opposition representatives – and, indeed, with anyone who is unhappy with the authorities and does not conceal their feelings."

And this one.

"The flow of contraband over the Russian–Ukrainian border has suddenly fallen tenfold, and in certain areas has dried up altogether. Many people in border villages are extremely unhappy, as they have lived off this illegal activity for more than twenty years."

And this one.

"In Mykolaiv, a peaceful mafia town of drug addicts and medium-sized companies, there was an attempt to seize the general administration, but only a few dozen people took part. The assault was defeated by citizens who gathered to defend the building."

And this one.

"Putin has again demanded that the Ukrainian army not use force against the peaceful pro-Russian activists who walk around in combat uniform, with no badges or other signs of identification, carrying AK-100 assault rifles."

And this one, which is straight out of a Coen Brothers movie 😊

"Last night, thirty-eight self-styled ‘warriors of Narnia’, brandishing clubs and knives, seized a bank in Kiev, disarming the security guards and occupying the premises. They were not after money or documents. When the police arrived, long and somewhat confused negotiations began with the armed robbers. One of them said they had come to protect the bank from a possible attack; others claimed they were just passing by when the bank, for no obvious reason, caught their eye. When the talks were concluded, they returned the security guards’ weapons to them and handed over their own to police, before vacating the premises. And the police let them go. They are now analysing all the recordings made by the bank’s CCTV cameras in order to understand what really happened."

The book has a fascinating notes section in the end, which gives a lot of interesting background on Ukrainian history and about the various personalities featured in the book. One thing I've wondered is why the Russian government keeps calling the Ukrainians fascists and Nazis. Didn't the Ukrainians suffer under the Nazis during the Second World War? Didn't they fight against them? One of the entries in the notes shares some insightful information on that.

This book offers a very good account and understanding of what happened in 2014. It makes us understand the present situation better. I don't know what Andrey Kurkov thinks about the war today. We'll have to wait and find out. His last passage in the book carries a premonition.

"...it’s already quite clear that the good old Ukraine we have lived in for twenty-three years since she gained independence will no longer exist. What kind of Ukraine will replace this quiet, peaceful version, no one knows. It’s easy enough to conjure up a variety of possible scenarios for the immediate future, although none of them are particularly optimistic. The main reason for this is that Europe, so vociferous in her support during the Maidan protests, has subsequently fallen silent and walked away, preferring to profit from trade with Russia. Money matters more than democracy. This cynical lesson that Europe has taught Ukraine will inevitably influence the future of my country. Which means that it will influence my own future. Ultimately, it will influence the future of Europe herself – the future of the entire European Union."

Since Kurkov wrote that passage, good old Ukraine has survived for eight more years. But she is now facing a new crisis, the most serious and dangerous one she has faced in the last 31 years. This time European reaction has been much better and more supportive, though it still leaves a lot to be desired. I hope this old girl, who has been through many challenging times, survives this and thrives. We are praying for her.

We are at the stage of the review, where I'll share my favourite quotes, sing 'Kumbaya' and bid farewell, and wait for friends to like and comment on my post, while I go and pick my next book to read. But if I do that now, I'll be like the reviewer of D.H.Lawrence's 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' who wrote that the book was not a great manual on game-keeping. So, I'm not going to do that today and sweep things below the carpet. I'm going to step out of my comfort zone and step into unknown territory.

A few days back, the unexpected crazy thing happened. After the previous weeks spent sabre-rattling, Russian forces invaded Ukraine. No one expected this, because one thought that the conversation and sabre-rattling will continue on TV and through press statements, but nothing much would come out of it. The official Russian version was that it was a special 'peacekeeping' operation conducted under the UN Charter. Nearly a week later, innocent Ukrainian civilians are dead, Ukrainian cities and buildings and streets are being bombed, people are living in bomb shelters or fleeing their homes into neighbouring countries. The Ukrainians aren't giving up though and they are fighting for their freedom. The Russian forces thought that they'll walk in and take over as they did in Crimea, but unfortunately for them, the Ukrainians have resisted. The Russian version of the current bombings and bloodbath that they have started is that the 'peacekeeping' is going well, but the crazy Ukrainian civilians are taking guns and shooting at each other and the Western media is lying by posting pictures from computer games.

The present situation is an invasion. It is not a 'peaceful' special operation. It is an invasion by Russia over a peaceful Ukraine. It should be condemned. This is not 1939 or 1956 or 1968 or 1980, when Russian tanks swooped into neighbouring countries. This is not 1939 when Germany decided to occupy the whole of Europe. This is not 2005 when America invaded Iraq. This is not 1959 when China went and occupied Tibet. This is not 1884 when European countries decided to divide Africa among themselves. This is 2022, and hopefully the era of big powers swooping into neighbouring countries and taking over their territory is over. And if they do that, they should be condemned and they should face the heat, and they should pay for it. Because if we let this slide, the United States will invade another country which it doesn't like, and China which is itching to annex Taiwan will just do that. Who knows what else might happen. In the future, all small countries will feel threatened by their big neighbours. All small countries should be able to manage their affairs as they see fit, and should be able to have independent domestic and foreign policies which are sometimes different from their bigger neighbours. Their rights to sovereignty should be protected by the international community. If people want war, they should watch 'Apocalypse Now', 'Saving Private Ryan', 'Dunkirk', '1917' and 'Game of Thrones'.

I hope this war ends soon and the Ukrainian people come out of it, with their freedom intact. It is hard to watch them suffer everyday. I've always been quiet on social media on international happenings, though I have my own opinions and have shared them in private. But this is not the time to be quiet and so I have decided to put this out here.

To my Russian friends who have protested against this war – I'm inspired by your bravery and courage. You are amazing and I admire you. Thank you for speaking out and thank you for doing what is right.

To my Russian friends who support this war – I hope you'll stop believing in what your government is saying. I hope you'll do your own independent research and come to your own conclusions. This is not a 'peaceful' operation. Innocent people are dying on the streets. Please ask your government to stop this.

To my Ukrainian brothers and sisters – We stand with you. We are inspired by your bravery and courage. We are all praying for you. It has been an honour knowing you. My greatest desire is to live a long boring life, grow old, get grey hair and die of boredom. I know in these difficult times this seems to be an impossible wish, but I wish that for all of you. May the force be with you. Слава Україні! Slava Ukraini!

💙💛

#StandWithUkraine

#UkraineDiaries #AndreyKurkov #UkrainianLiterature

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a great fan of Andrey Kurkov's mystery novels set in the Ukraine, most notably Death of a Penguin and Penguin Lost -- both of which feature a cute penguin named Mischa.

Ukraine Diaries is a day by day diary of the events in Ukraine beginning with the protests at the Maidan late in 2013 and continuing on to the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the fomenting of violence by the Russian security agencies in the mostly Russian-speaking Eastern Ukraine, a.k.a. Donbas Region.

What characterizes this book is the same dark humor to be found in the author's mysteries. Toward the end, he says "there's an old Ukrainian proverb that I often hear: 'If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.'"

On another occasion, he writes:

There are too many different groups, incapable of getting along; some revolutionaries are demanding a free apartment, others aproof of residence, and yet others help in finding a steady job in Kiev. They took Kiev, didn't they? They got rid of [ex-President] Yanukovych. Now they want to be rewarded. But isn't a normal country, freed from corruption, the greatest prize any normal citizen could ask for?

It is easy to be sardonic when your adopted country (Kurkov was born in Russia) is controlled by thugs and looters, and Karkov was sardonic enough to be in danger during the revolt.

Ukraine Diaries is well worth reading for a day by day picture of a revolution that, one supposes, is still going on. Putin is like a Gila Monster that, once he bites into your skin, just keeps chewing until all the toxin is worked in.

[Phil Sun]

Earlier this week I watched Station Eleven, alternately horrified and charmed. I was horrified by the devastation wrought by a flu that kills 99 percent of the world's population, of the idea of people dying alone in their apartments, cut off from their loved ones. But the world that emerges is still filled with art and parties and love. Later I thought, while reading Andrey Kurkov's Ukraine Diaries, that the end of the world isn't science fiction or fantasy. Kurkov is writing during a period of intense political unrest between November 2013 and April 2014. Kyiv's Maidan Square is occupied by protestors unhappy with a corrupt government. Shadowy actors are killing or disappearing protestors. Crimea has been annexed by Russia, leading to absurd situations peculiar to borders. The world as Kurkov knew it is ending. He reminisces about a trip in Crimea with another writer, searching for a trailer selling a Tartar speciality: a pastry, served hot, filled with minced mutton. He writes, "For the moment, it is better to not think about those trips. From now on, those Crimean winter holidays will be consigned irretrievably to our family's past." Still, Kurkov maintains a sense of humour, albeit dark. There are parties, family gatherings, celebrations, and concerts. At the end of the world (as you knew it), there will be, along with peril and destruction and mayhem: memory, art, love, always love.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little long in the tooth given the last entry is from 2014,this is nonetheless a stark reminder of how Vladimir Putin pretty much achieved all he wanted to do in Ukraine earlier this decade while his countrymen continue trading in the City of London and Wall Street and newspapers and websites everywhere eagerly anticipate a 2018 World Cup that really shouldn't be taking place in Russia at all.

The diary format is a great reminder and introduction to events and Kurkov's descriptions of daily life really add colour to his views on the political situation. In the end, central and western Ukraine broke free temporarily of the Russian yoke but at the expense of a literal arm and a leg in Crimea and the Donbass region. The style is as effortless as that of his tremendous novels and he is a warm hearted humanist and public intellectual of the first order.

[Raimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The term revolution elicits very strong emotions; it is a very interesting phenomena that often evokes vivid images of heroism in the face of hardships, where the will of the many a weak and disenfranchised battle against the thorns of injustice imposed by the corrupt - but powerful - few in society. It's no secret that there is a certain romance at the heart of the whole concept that is nowhere more perfectly evident than the visualization of the French Revolution. Regardless of how much has been written about the terror of THE revolution, artists, writers, filmmakers etc have been feverishly in love with romanticizing it in pop culture.

With the Belarusian protests still going strong as of writing this review, I felt back in August that there is truly no better time to revisit one of the biggest events of the years 2013-14 - the Euromaidan.



Euromaidan, since its inception, was broadcast around the world. I was in high school around that time and even wrote a paper on it as it was unfolding; during that time, I emphasized the uncertainty of the entire situation. The visual aspect of the entire conflict was paramount in understanding what was going on: people hiding behind barricades erected to protect them from police officers adorned in riot gear, as fires around them were erupting; images of violent clashes, heroic final stands, scenes of nighttime illuminated by the fires of change trying to destroy the rotten corruption at the core of this beautiful country. The visualization of this entire event on social media helped evoke a very strong response around the world, as striking images of a very dark and brooding conflict created a canvas that was to be broadcast to millions of viewers. The night was dark and full of terrors, as fires raged uncontrollably on the horizon, ready to lead a nation into a brave new world. Just see the picture above to understand what it felt like to see it all unfold.

Kurkov's take on the whole situation was different. WAY different. In fact, most of the time, it feels like he was just very confused about the whole ordeal taking place in his home country. Situated very close to Maidan Nezalezhnosti (the Independence Square), he had a very good view of everything that was going on. Literally. His take on the whole situation is a peculiar one; in one chapter, he drops of his kids to school before joining the revolution. This sort of humor helps ease the tense atmosphere and becomes a staple of the entire book. For a good part of the book, Kurkov discusses the reasons the Euromaidan happened in the first place (corrupt president, corrupt government...yup, lots of corruption), offering a lot of info on the histories of Russia and Ukraine, the many politicians who tried to seize control (for example, Yulia Tymoshenko, who is almost like a literary creation in this book), and, most importantly, driving the point across that Viktor Yanukovych is just bad-bad-bad.

While politics and the protests are the main concern for Kurkov, he does write about his personal life, too. In one chapter, he goes into detail about Yanukovych's gross incompetence, the possible future of Ukraine, the lack of an endgame most protesters seem to have, and in other chapters, he simply wonders: what will I have for dinner? Are we going to be able to go for a vacation in Crimea? How much wine will I have to buy to host an award ceremony for some people from France? (He is an author, and during this time, he won some big awards). The point here is, this is a diary of his life during those chaotic months, and because of that, a lot of his personal life here opens to the reader.

I wouldn't describe this book as a light read, nor would I consider it to be a very dramatic one akin to what I saw in the news. Rather, this is a very laid back story not concerned with literary merit as opposed to information. Some chapters were downright boring, as nothing really happened that day, while others were packed full of information (such as when Crimea was annexed), making the whole tone of this book very inconsistent. But I wouldn't say that this really ruined the experience for me, since I learned quite a lot about the situation in Ukraine while reading this book. It should also be noted that the war is still raging on in some parts of Ukraine, which is why this book is - dare I say it? - more relevant that ever.

Now we simply wait for a diary from Belarus...

[Julian Douglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good account of what has happened in Ukraine during the Madian Revolution in 2013-14. Starts off with a good concise recap of what happened in his eyes, but then kinda dissolves into a day by day account of what is going on in his life during the crisis. Interesting book to get a different perspective of the chaotic events in Ukraine.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covering the period from November 2013 to April 2014, these diary entries give a close-up look at the Maidan protests and events surrounding them. Kurkov is both a skilled writer and a keen-eyed observer, giving the reader deeper insight than an outsider might provide.

[Andrew Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of this went over my head—I couldn’t keep the names straight because I couldn’t pronounce them, the cities blurred into one another. What I did understand, however, was certainly interesting and (occasionally) humorous, as the author is known for his satirical novels. Mostly, it was just heartbreaking how prescient it is eight years later.

[Sarah Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good book to show the lead up to the Maidan Massacre and the aftermath. I learnt a lot about the city in which I live and feel I understand it a little more now. This is a diary so only shows Kurkov's experiences, but it has made me want to research this more. Obviously it had to be published at some point, but it would be interesting to if it could be updated with an after-afterword (already had an afterword written in June after the elections) so take into account the escalations in the east and the plane that was shot down.

[Martinxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read book for anyone who wants to know what has happened in Ukraine and the brave fight of people against a corrupt government and Russian intervention. Excellent.

[Jessie (Zombie_likes_cake) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurkov is one of Ukraine's most famous fiction writers, and this book is what it says on the tin: his diary during a turbulent time of the country's history, precisely between November 21st 2013 and April 24th 2014 and it covers the Maidan Protest or Euromaidan and the Crimea annexation. While there are some personal details, for the most parts this is a recounting of the political events and revolutionary happenings during the time. I couldn't help but wonder if there were some edits being done to this or is this truly how he writes his diary: if so contrary to the introduction it seems like this was meant for a wider audience and not just for himself.

For the most parts he describes the day to day going-ons, the development of the protests sparked by president Yanukovych's refusal to sign a treaty with the EU and instead choosing closer ties with Russia, the ultimate fall and escape of the president but also the loss of the Crimea peninsula to Russia. I thought this book was great to get an impression of what it feels like to be in a country on the brink of war. Your daily chores continue but there is also the strain from the threat and the turmoil. I had hoped for more personal input yet mostly this is written in basic and a bit detached and clipped voice, I guess a diary with the purpose to hold down what happens not how it emotionally impacted the writer is what this is. There is value in that but I am always about the personal touch in my Non-Fiction. Still, I could appreciate Kharkov's sarcastic judgements of the events, and while mostly supportive of the protest he does also share criticism of certain moments. Most powerful were his introductory lines, where he goes into the differences of living a stable life instead of living on the edge of a volcano that can erupt at any time, that what life in the Ukraine can feel like. It is sad how often he and others in this book foresaw the current even more disturbing invasion of Ukraine by Russia. At some point it is even philosophized this is the beginning of WWIII, that the world will change from now on and that this is the initial spark.

But I wasn't always a happy camper reading this book, the political landscape of a country I know little about was often overwhelming me. Kharkov does give some explanations but you can tell that this wasn't written for a foreign audience. It is a document of the time and if you need more details to understand that time, you will need uncle google. Or at least I did, and that is not a bad thing per se. All I am saying is that I struggled to get into the read. Also, I expected this to read more similar to a memoir. Another mistake that is on me yet will be reflected in my rating. In a memoir you will get more reflection and contextualization, I had never read someone's dairy before (a few pages of Kafka's aside) and assumed the reading experienced would be similar to a memoir but it is really not. For a lot of things the context is simply missing or requires additional research. An easy example, I think for the first third of the novel I was not sure if Gaby was his daughter or someone that worked for his household (she is his daughter). I just didn't have the context and of course he doesn't explain everyone's relation to him in his own diary since it is obvious to him. So just for me personally, I am not sure I relish the concept of reading someone's diary, at least not someone I know so little about. I think it is less useful to gain an overview but more useful to gain deeper insights after you already have an overview.

Still, there are for sure impressions and knowledge I can walk away with. This is an at times rather cynical account, no happy endings that suggest things will be okay. No, here we have a harsh look at the reality of a country that knows another power (Russia) wants to take back what they think is theirs and little in their own hands to stop them, a country that knows the rest of the world only cares marginally and it might not go to all lengths to help protect its sovereignty, a country that even within itself sees the splits and division of how to move forward from here. We are currently seeing the fate of this country again being fought over, no end in sight.

[Søderholm Fredrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is fascinating to see the effects of propaganda on people. We are all exposed to it constantly, but as soon as we stop looking at issues from different perspectives (news sources), we put ourselves at risk of being manipulated.

This, combined with Russia’s insane level of corruption, can lead to people actually arresting and prosecuting Ukrainian citizens in the capital simply for walking around with the Ukrainian flag.

Imagine this happening in Norway (I am Norwegian): it becomes illegal to walk around with the national flag in Oslo, and all of Finnmark, with a leadership that has been bought, tries to separate itself from the kingdom.

Fascinating how effective it has been. Even in the U.S.—Russia’s Greatest rival—many believe that Russia had good reason to invade Ukraine, including several people in leadership positions🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️How fascinating!

One of the problems we humans face is that we don’t know what to do or who to trust to get the most accurate information on a subject.
You can start by not using TikTok or Russia Today (RT) as news sources.

You dumb f***

[Paulius · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is strange to read books about events I was following while they were happening, it is strange to read books about events where people I know were participating. It is liberating to understand what was going inside a mind of people close.
This is a primary source and it feels like that - it is subjective and honest, no cold calculations or speculations and some things we now know how happened here are uncertain.
This diary is easy to read and helpful to understand how war started. War that is going on for almost a decade now.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

As it happened.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nell'edizione italiana ci sono dei problemi di traduzione e svariati errori di battitura.

[Magdalena · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Obyś żył w ciekawych czasach” chińskie przysłowie, a może przekleństwo

„Jeżeli kogoś, i jego kraju, nie spotyka nic szczególnego, wydaje się, że życie nie ma końca i jest niezmienne. Ten stan, w którym czas mierzy się etapami kariery zawodowej, kupnem nowego domu czy samochodu, rodzinnymi wakacjami, ślubami i rozwodami, oznacza po prostu stabilizację. Dla kogoś, kto mieszka w jakimś „punkcie zapalnym”, a choćby tylko w pobliżu czynnego wulkanu, wartość przeżytych dni, każdej przeżytej godziny jest nieskończenie większa niż wartość całego tygodnia w stanie stabilizacji.”[1]

Tymi słowami Andrzej Kurkow rozpoczyna swoje fascynujące zapiski, poczynione w ciągu pięciu miesięcy trwania dramatycznych wydarzeń w Kijowie, od dnia 21 listopada 2013 roku. Mieszkanie autora znajdowało się 500 metrów od Majdanu, gdzie protestujący przyszli po raz pierwszy w odpowiedzi na hasło rzucone na Facebooku. Marzenia zwykłych ludzi, którzy chcieli żyć inaczej, niż zaplanował to Wiktor Janukowycz zderzyły się polityką Europy, która najpierw wydarzenia na Majdanie poparła, by wycofać w obliczu konfliktu zbrojnego na Krymie.

Relacje z wydarzeń przeplatają się z codziennym życiem. Kurkow ma żonę i troje dzieci, trzeba zrobić zakupy, pójść do szkoły na wywiadówkę, spotkać się z rodziną, udzielić wywiadu dla prasy, napisać kolejny rozdział powieści, zajrzeć na Majdan i porozmawiać z ludźmi, zrobić notatki w dzienniku: „Coraz bardziej byłem przekonany, że całe ukraińskie sądownictwo ogarnia stan „obłąkania”. Wiele wyroków sądowych zapada nocą, kiedy kraj właściwie powinien spać. (…) Poza tym sędziom, jak wielokrotnie udowodnili to dziennikarze, często wciskano w ręce już wcześniej i bez ich udziału wydany, wydrukowany i podpisany wyrok. Tak w każdym razie wyglądały wyroki, które wydawano wobec przedstawicieli opozycji i każdego, kto po prostu nie był zadowolony z rządzących i nie robił z tego tajemnicy.”[2]

Głosem spokojnym, niemal pozbawionym emocji zauważa: „Rewolucyjny surrealizm kwitnie. Do rewolucji tymczasem „przyłączyło się” więcej dziwnych typów, niż brało w niej udział. Zdarzają się wśród nich zwykli kryminaliści i przestępcy, którzy pod płaszczykiem Prawego Sektora plądrują sklepy i gospodarstwa na południu Ukrainy.”[3]

Nam, którzy znamy przebieg wydarzeń na Ukrainie z medialnych przekazów, ukazują się szczegóły zazwyczaj pomijane, mniej zorientowanym w polityce czytelnikom rozjaśniają się pewne powiązania i mechanizmy popychające ludzi do takich, a nie innych reakcji, sięgających korzeniami daleko w głąb historii. Kurkow nie traci nadziei: „Bądźmy dobrej myśli! Wszyscy są zmęczeni czekaniem na wojnę, groźbami Rosji, strachem o przyszłość. Chciałoby się tę stronę ukraińskiej historii odwrócić tak szybko, jak to tylko możliwe, i przejść do happy endu!”[4]

Życie pokaże co będzie dalej, a ja zapraszam do lektury!
-------
[1] „Dziennik ukraiński”, Andriej Kurkow , tłumaczenie Elżbieta Zarych, Wydawnictwo: Noir sur Blanc, s. 7
[2] tamże, s. 17
[3] tamże, s. 175
[4] tamże, s. 198

[Марина · Rating 5 out of 5]

Це дійсно щоденник, у якому короткими нотатками описані переломні події у історії сучасної України, коли 21 листопада 2013 року багато українців були змушені вийти на мітинги проти рішення тодішньої влади.
Хтось дивився це по телевізору, хтось не звертав уваги, а хтось і сам став учасником. Описувати у дописі події, що відбувалися не так давно, зайве. Тим паче - оцінювати погляд автора на те, що відбувалося, бо у книжці зовсім мало художньої складової. Залишу декілька цитат у хронологічному порядку і пораджу прочитати "Щоденник Майдану", щоб згадати деталі, освіжити пам'ять про те, що не так просто забути:

"Євроінтеграція скасовується. Ми знову будемо любити Росію. Європа, здається, шокована. Я теж"

"Коли мені не вистачає слів, рука сама тягнеться до книг. Останнім часом відчуття нестачі слів виникає все частіше. Або життя стає багатшим, або з нього вимиваються слова, здатні його описати. Скоріше за все друге. Люди все менше користуються словами і все більше вигуками та жестами"

"Люди з генетичною пам’яттю раба мріють стати рабовласниками. Люди з генетичною пам’яттю вільної людини мріють про свободу для всіх"

"Дивно, що людина, яка виступає за державну цілісність своєї країни і проти агресії сусідньої держави, може вважатися в чужій країні «зрадником»!"

"Колись Донбаський степ називали Диким полем. Нині це поле стало набагато більше диким і перетворилося на головний біль для всієї України"

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book for anyone who wants to learn more about the events in Ukraine that have taken place over the past several months.

I trust the veracity of the narrative as it is in line with articles I have read and stories I have heard from my Ukrainian friends, and Andrey Kurkov's voice is one of civilian honesty and concern, and not overwhelming politics. In actual fact it is highly cynical of politics - though the author's own views become clear - and it does not look to preach to us.

It would be somewhat insulting, I think, to recommend this collection of diary entries as "gripping" or "fascinating". What I would say to anyone thinking about reading this book, instead, is that these published 'Dispatches from Kiev' seem to reflect the reality that so many Ukrainians have been living through.

Crucially, the text looks for our understanding of the issues that their country faces.

Ukraine Diaries is humane and intimate, being the unique product of its author, a husband, father, and novelist living in Kiev--and it is unmissable for those that have taken a genuine interest in Ukraine and its future.

[John Defrog: global citizen, local gadfly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m generally a fan of Kurkov’s novels, so I was keen to pick up this translation of his diaries regarding current events in Ukraine, from the start of the Euromaidan protests in November 2013 to the annexation of Crimea and the subsequent separatist uprisings in the east up to around mid-2014. People unfamiliar with Kurkov’s work might expect some serious, detailed investigative journalism about the Ukraine/Russia situation or at least a rabid anti-Putin diatribe. However, this is more of a sober document of daily life in Kiev during a time of political corruption, upheaval and the anguish of watching your country rip itself apart (with some outside help) in real time, with no idea how events are going to play out. Kurkov is an observer, not a participant, but he’s not detached either. And while he makes no secret about whose side he is on, he reports on events with admirable restraint and mild sarcasm. It’s a compelling read for anyone who wants to get a better sense of what happened in Ukraine during this period and what was (and arguably still is) as stake.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

How surreal to read this in 2022!

"It will come to an end at some point. Whatever the outcome, it’s already quite clear that the good old Ukraine we have lived in for twenty-three years since she gained independence will no longer exist. What kind of Ukraine will replace this quiet, peaceful version, no one knows. It’s easy enough to conjure up a variety of possible scenarios for the immediate future, although none of them are particularly optimistic. The main reason for this is that Europe, so vociferous in her support during the Maidan protests, has subsequently fallen silent and walked away, preferring to profit from trade with Russia. Money matters more than democracy. This cynical lesson that Europe has taught Ukraine will inevitably influence the future of my country. Which means that it will influence my own future. Ultimately, it will influence the future of Europe herself – the future of the entire European Union."

"People don’t listen to one another during wartime."

[Dmitry · Rating 2 out of 5]

(The English review is placed beneath the Russian one)

Провинция зевала грустно нервно в телевизоры,
А кто-то просто шел домой и ел яичницу.
Дышали трупы тихо, мерно под скальпелем провизора,
А кто-то в зеркале вертел уже своею личностью.

Наверно эта книга воспринималась бы совсем по-другому, если бы я её читал в те дни, когда она была издана и/или если бы эта книга была бы первой на тему современной Украины. Однако после множества очень хороших работ по данной теме, эта книга выглядит довольно блекло и единственно, что спасает книгу, это её принадлежность к жанру дневников. Вот если рассматривать книгу как персональный взгляд автора, который был лишь слегка затронут событиями на Майдане, т.е. не был активным участником, то книга неплохая. Другими словами книгу можно рассматривать как восприятие среднего украинца, ведь мы же понимаем, что активными участниками Майдана или острой фазы противостояние участников Майдана и Беркута, был лишь небольшой процент всего населения, даже если мы возьмём всех людей участвовавших в каких-либо политических акциях на всей территории Украины в те дни. Поэтому повторюсь - как книга, которая может быть воспринята как взгляд усреднённого украинца, она неплохая. К примеру, в книге много бытовых историй, историй как автор со своей семьёй пошёл туда-то или туда-то, пока на Майдане кипели страсти. Собственно это хорошо показывает, что для большинства населения революция часто является фоном, событием, которое происходит где-то там, вдалеке. Люди, конечно, интересуются такими событиями, но часто такой интерес объясняется человеческой психологией. Это не значит, что я хочу преуменьшить значения событий на Майдане, я лишь говорю, что эта книга навела меня на мысль, что в революциях (не только в Украине), участвует меньшинство (это, кстати, к вопросу, о радикалах, которые конечно были, но явно не представляли всё общество и были меньшинством в меньшинстве). Можно вспомнить революционные события в Москве 1993, когда в одной части города происходили боевые столкновения и танки стреляли, а в двух шагах шла торговля, и люди спешили на работу. Вот что-то похожее у меня сложилось и в отношении этой книги.

Автор хорошо показывает, что какого-то руководящего органа у революции не было (к вопросу, о так называемой «руке США» в этих событиях). На улицах Киева или даже всей Украины был скорее более-менее упорядоченный хаос, который совершенно естественен для любой подобной революции. К сожалению, автор не углубляется в детали, и читатель может лишь слегка увидеть сумятицу на улицах украинских городов и в украинской политике.

Короче, получилось у автора неплохо, но очень поверхностно и поспешно. Я не увидел чёткий взгляд украинского буржуа, а скорее туманные очертания и страх грядущего. Странно, учитывая, что автор данной книги является профессиональным писателем, от которого ожидаешь более развёрнутый обзор ситуации. А у нас тут получился любительский дневник – хаотичный и едва уловимый. Но может именно так и должен выглядеть настоящий дневник?

Perhaps this book would have been perceived quite differently if I had read it in the days when it was published and/or if this book would have been the first on the topic of modern Ukraine. However, after many very good works on the subject, this book looks rather pale, and the only thing that saves the book is its belonging to the genre of diaries. If we consider the book as a personal view of the author, who was only slightly affected by the events on Maidan, i.e., was not an active participant, then the book is not bad. In other words, the book can be seen as a perception of an average Ukrainian because we acknowledge that the active participants of Maidan or the acute phase of the confrontation between Maidan participants and Berkut were only a small percentage of the population, even if we take all the people who participated in any political action in the whole territory of Ukraine in those days. So I repeat - as a book that can be perceived as a view of an average Ukrainian, it is not bad. For example, the book contains many everyday stories - stories of how the author and his family went to this or that place while the passions were boiling on Maidan. Actually, it shows well that for the majority of the population, the revolution is often a background, an event that takes place somewhere out there, in the distance. People, of course, are interested in such events, but often such interest is explained by human psychology. This does not mean that I want to minimize the significance of the events in Maidan; I'm just saying that this book made me think that in revolutions (not only in Ukraine), a minority is involved (this, by the way, to the question of radicals, who, of course, were, but clearly did not represent the whole society and were a minority in a minority). One can remember the revolutionary events in Moscow in 1993 when, in one part of the city, there was fighting and tanks firing, while a few steps away, there was commerce and people were rushing to work. I have a similar feeling about this book.

The author shows well that the revolution had no governing body (to the question of the so-called "US hand" in these events). On the streets of Kyiv or even the whole of Ukraine, there was rather more or less orderly chaos, which is quite natural for any such revolution. Unfortunately, the author does not go into details, and the reader can only slightly see the turmoil on the streets of Ukrainian cities and in Ukrainian politics.

In short, the author did well but was very superficial and hasty. I did not see a clear view of the Ukrainian bourgeois, but rather vague outlines and fear of what was to come. Strange, considering that the author of this book is a professional writer from whom one expects a more detailed overview of the situation. What we have here is an amateur diary - chaotic and barely perceptible. But maybe this is what a real diary should look like.

[F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving - easy to read, in the sense that his style is relaxed, uncomplicated, mixing everyday details with the big events. For me it really brought home that strange mood where despite the upheavals and worries and demonstrations and political unrest, life for most people just carries on. For a lot of the time, you block out the unpleasant things, but nevertheless they insist on grabbing your attention and impinging on your daily life whether you want them to or not -they demand attention, but so often you feel completely powerless to do anything to influence what it going on.
So, whilst 'easy to read', there were also moments where I had to put the book down, and try to deal with my emotions, in turmoil as I tried to deal with being confronted with the realities of life in Ukraine over these past months, so clearly and dispassionately depicted by Kurkov.

[Peter K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A contemporary account by the author of the upheaval experienced in Ukraine that started at the Euromaidan towards the end of 2013 and then was further escalated by the Russian invasion of Crimea all written from his viewpoint as a resident of Kiev and a Ukrainian of Russian heritage.

The immediacy of his reports and the suffocating insecurity and concern about what may happen, the loss of certainties because of the Russian aggression in Crimea and the personal fears for his family’s wellbeing are pin sharp in their impact and even without my added engagement owing to my heritage this is a compelling read of day to day life turned upside down by factors outside of ordinary citizen’s control.

[Deimantė Jurkštaitė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Labai apšviečianti 2013-2014m. įvykius Rytų ir Vakarų Ukrainoje knyga. Nors tai yra dienoraštis, tačiau nepasižymi perdėtu emocingumu, labiau užlieja skaitytoją datomis, vardais ir vietovardžiais (tad norisi dažnai googlinti). Rytojaus nežinomybės jausmas šiurpina kiekviename puslapyje. 
3/5 dėl mano pačios nepakankamo žinių kiekio apie įvykius Ukrainoje ir tai apsunkinusį skaitymą + tikėjausi daugiau pasakotojo apmąstymų.
"Atsisakiusiam klauptis rašytojui Serhijui Žadanui daužė galvą beisbolo lazdomis. Dabar jis ligoninėje. Kijeve naktį nužudyti trys autoinspektoriai, sustabdę automobilį be numerių. Niekas nežino, kiek ginklų dabar klajoja po šalį.
Pusryčiams Liza ketino berniūkščiams pagaminti varškėčių."

[Sergiy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually like this book better than the three star rating I gave it. I couldn't recommend this to anyone that is not interested in the Ukrainian Maidan revolution. which is the reason for the star getting removed.

Interesting perspective and gives a valuable second viewpoint to someone like me, who has only followed the events via online media.

[George Wehrle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors diary, from November 2013 to April 2014, living in the center of Kiev. Lots of interesting details, and thoughts on Ukraine. Stories about evenings with friends, getting the kids to school, and the future of Ukraine.