When Russian forces seized his village in 2022, Volodymyr Vakulenko, a beloved Ukrainian author renowned for his whimsical children’s books, took a daring step to protect his latest creation. Sensing the looming threat of arrest, he clandestinely buried his handwritten manuscript beneath the roots of a cherry tree in his backyard.
Filled with a mix of simmering anger towards the occupiers and poignant observations of life under Russian rule, Vakulenko’s words painted a stark picture: neglected flower beds, makeshift cooking on open fires due to utility failures, and even unexpected moments of camaraderie with the Russian forces.
Tragically, Vakulenko’s fears materialized as he was apprehended by Russian soldiers and later found among the victims in a mass grave.
Months later, Viktoria Amelina, a fellow Ukrainian writer, discovered the hidden manuscript, added a heartfelt foreword, and bravely sent it to a publisher. However, her own life was cut short in a missile strike on a local pizzeria.
In a final cruel blow, Russian missiles targeted and destroyed the printing plant in Kharkiv responsible for bringing Vakulenko’s work to life. The attack claimed the lives of seven employees, injured 22 others, and significantly diminished Ukraine’s book-printing capabilities.
Despite the harrowing journey that led to its publication, the book, titled “I Transform: A Diary of Occupation and Selected Poems,” defiantly made its way onto the shelves of Ukrainian bookstores, a testament to the enduring spirit of Ukrainian literature in the face of adversity.
