On November 14, a meeting with the authors of Voices of Defenders took place at UA Comix Store.

“Voices of Defenders tells the true stories of young people who stood up to defend Ukraine’s independence, showing the war not just as a series of battles, but as a deeply personal, pulsating experience of memory, pain, and love. Yes—love in all its forms. Listen to these voices. They matter.”

— Valeriy Puzik, writer, serviceman, author of the foreword.

🎧📖 Read the collection online:

Discover the stories of the real people!

The event brought together everyone drawn to stories of human experience, resilience, and the personal journeys of Ukraine’s defenders. The evening’s atmosphere was warm and relaxed: full of conversations, laughter, important memories, and those moments when every word spoken resonated throughout the room.

The authors of the collection shared not only their experiences of war. They spoke about life in all its dimensions: love, support, inner strength, and the invisible forces that shape our decisions and give us the courage to move forward.

For us, as the team behind the project, it was especially meaningful to witness the audience’s genuine interest. We gained several new valuable contacts and ideas that will help us develop and expand the series of veteran short story collections. We are convinced that the experiences shared by our defenders must be preserved and passed on.

📚 Authors and Voice Actors of This Year’s Collection

Short Story Authors: Andriy Bodnar, Anastasiia Khlibnyk, Denys Skorbatyuk, Ihor Dusan, Inna Korolenko, Iryna Vasechko, Volodymyr Saveliev, Andriy Kaspshishak, Andriy Sushko, Danylo Stavytskyi.

Voice Actors: Ruslana Danilkina, Roksolana Vynnytska, Svitlana Baranova, Ruslan Kukhta, Oleksii Stolar, Maksym Fetisov, Oleksandr Bazylevych, Kyrylo Baranov, Yevhenii Kraïnov, Viktor Meshcheryakov.

Each story is more than just text — it is a piece of lived experience, a voice that is now heard. It was poignant, it was real. Every story is different: defenders from various brigades and cities, familiar and unfamiliar faces alike, yet all united by a shared desire to create.

After the discussion, attendees received complimentary copies of the book — giving them the chance to speak with the authors, get autographs, and thank them personally. It was also a wonderful opportunity for those who couldn’t attend the book launch on October 3 at Lviv’s BookForum.

The meeting served as another reminder of how important it is to amplify the voices of those who have experienced war and are willing to share their stories openly and honestly. We are grateful to everyone who joined us that day, listened, shared, and showed their support.

Coordinator: Yurko Vovkohon

Printing: 3.3.3 Publishing House (Bohdan Kordoba)

Compiler & Editor: Hryhoriy Semenchuk

Sound Engineer: Nazar Pavlyk (79014records studio)

Foreword: Valeriy Puzik

Photography: Kit Kharkaternyk & Oleksandra Basarab

Website: Lesyk Pidzharyi

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The publication of Voices of Defenders. vol.1 is part of the eponymous Ukrainian-Danish project supporting young defenders and military volunteers in Ukraine. It is implemented by the YMCA-YWCA Lviv team together with KFUM og KFUK i Danmark, with the support of CISU (Civil Society in Development) Denmark. Volumes 2 and 3 are planned for release over the next two years.