News Feed

Author Serhiy Zhadan to enlist in National Guard

1 min read
Author Serhiy Zhadan to enlist in National Guard
Poet and novelist Serhiy Zhadan signs a book at a literary event in the heavily-shelled city of Kherson on Nov. 7, 2023. (Asami Terajima/The Kyiv Independent)

Writer and musician Serhiy Zhadan announced his plan to join the "Charter" brigade of Ukraine's National Guard in a live broadcast on March 25.

Zhadan is a renowned poet and novelist as well as the frontman of Kharkiv-based ska band Zhadan and The Dogs. He is also a political activist and humanitarian volunteer.

Zhadan shared his plans to enlist during a livestream discussion with journalists in the Serebrianka forest.

"It seems to me that today there are no writers or non-writers, musicians or non-musicians — there are citizens of Ukraine who feel responsible for their country," he said.

"The army, in principle, equalizes everyone."

Zhadan previously worked as a volunteer, helping to transfer aid to the Ukrainian military. He also actively participated in and supported Ukraine's Orange and EuroMaidan revolutions.

Winner of the 2022 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, since 2014 Zhadan has written many novels, poems, and essays reflecting on themes surrounding the war.

Zhadan's announcement comes as the government hopes to ramp up mobilization in 2024, aiming to recruit 450,000-500,000 new conscripts.

Serhiy Zhadan: ‘If Russia wins, there will be no literature, no culture, nothing’
“C’mon, this way,” Serhiy Zhadan said, climbing the stairs of Kharkiv’s Puppet Theater. We follow the writer’s black cigarette jeans and iconic leather jacket through a maze of corridors, almost running after his lean silhouette deep into the cool darkness of empty seats. Every theater dreams of
Article image
Avatar
Sonya Bandouil

North American news editor

Sonya Bandouil is a North American news editor for The Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in the fields of cybersecurity and translating, and she also edited for various journals in NYC. Sonya has a Master’s degree in Global Affairs from New York University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Houston, in Texas.

Read more
News Feed

The World Bank will provide $200 million over the next five years to prepare Ukrainian projects for large-scale reconstruction, the Economy Ministry announced on July 11. The funding will be available under the five-year PREPARE program with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).

Video

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, war has become a daily reality for thousands of Ukrainian children. Some Ukrainian military units, such as the Azov Brigade, offer boot camps for teenagers to teach them the basics of self-defense, first aid, dry firing, and other survival skills — helping them prepare for both the realities of today and the uncertainties of the future.

Show More