In this Knyzhka Corner book review, Myra Junyk takes a fresh look at Serhii Rudenko’s Zelensky, a gripping biography of Volodymyr Zelensky—comedian, political outsider, and ultimately the wartime president who galvanized Ukraine after Russia’s full‑scale invasion.

Myra highlights Rudenko’s vivid storytelling as he follows Zelensky from his early life in Kryvyi Rih and his unexpected rise to the presidency to the defining moments that shaped his leadership under fire.

With its candid portrayal of both strengths and controversies, this biography offers listeners a compelling window into Ukraine’s modern history and the making of a global symbol of resilience.

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This Kultural Capsule feature looks at Ukraine’s first modern bid for independence in the years surrounding the First World War.

It outlines how the early declarations of statehood set the foundation for a national revival that continues to resonate today. It also reflects on the unification of Ukraine’s early republics and the symbolic moments that kept the idea of independence alive through decades of repression and diaspora memory.

The feature closes with a look at one of the defining early clashes of the period — a young group of defenders facing overwhelming force — a reminder of how deeply rooted Ukraine’s fight for freedom has always been, and why that history still matters.

This Kultural Capsule was recorded in 2011 and is still relevant today. It was rebroadcast on the January 24th 2026 Vancouver edition and January 28th Nanaimo edition along with some more recent related events, including some great Ukrainian tunes. Check it out on MixCloud!

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A review of Serhiy Zhadan’s A Harvest Truce, a tragicomic portrait of grief, resilience, and daily survival on Ukraine’s front lines, translated by Nina Murray and reviewed by Myra Junyk.

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This week’s Knyzka Corner looks at A Harvest Truce, Serhiy Zhadan’s tragicomic portrayal of everyday life in Eastern Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. Through the story of two brothers trying to bury their mother amid shelling, collapsed infrastructure, and strained community bonds, the play reveals both the harshness of daily survival and the quiet resilience that sustains ordinary Ukrainians living under Russian aggression since 2014.

Reviewer Myra Junyk highlights the mix of bleakness and dark humour that runs through the work, as well as its echoes of Beckett in the way characters navigate an uncertain, often absurd reality. She also notes the strong sense of community that persists despite fear, suspicion, and the constant threat of violence.

Published by the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI), a leading centre for scholarship and publishing in Ukrainian studies.

A Harvest Truce is available from Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, and directly from HURI.

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