“Unwritten” Project Reveals Names of 239 Ukrainian Literary Figures Killed by Russia in 11 Years of War

The volunteer initiative “Unwritten” (Недописані) released a list of 239 Ukrainian literary figures who were killed in or died as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine over the past 11 years.

The full list, which includes writers, poets, translators, editors, publishers, literary scholars, librarians, printers, and literary promoters, was published on the project’s official X page.

“In 11 years of war, Russia has killed 239 Ukrainian people of letters. Among them are military personnel and civilians, men and women,” representatives of the project stated.

The list contains both well-known figures, such as Victoria Amelina, Maksym Kryvtsov (Dali), and Volodymyr Vakulenko, and lesser-known authors whose creative paths were only beginning.

In their statement, the authors emphasized that they are publishing the version of the list as of March 13, 2025, noting: “This is an updated and corrected version based on the results of our ongoing monitoring.”

According to the project’s authors, “Unwritten” aims to preserve and share the legacy of those whose lives were tragically cut short by war: “The project is meant to carry their words forward, to promote their work and contribution to Ukrainian culture, even after their untimely deaths at the hands of the aggressor,” the statement says.

The “Unwritten” project was founded in spring 2023 by Yevhen Lir, a soldier, volunteer, and writer, and Olena Herasymiuk, a poet and paramedic of the Hospitallers volunteer medical battalion.

Previously, the BBC’s British edition recognized the late Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina’s book as one of the 40 most captivating reads recommended for 2025. Amelina lost her life on July 2, 2023, after being critically injured in a Russian missile attack on Kramatorsk in June of the same year.