Ivano-Frankivsk – Kherson: literary parallels

Ivano-Frankivsk – Kherson: Literary Parallels (A Creative Meeting of Ivano-Frankivsk Writers with Readers from Kherson)

On 28 October 2026, at 2:00 p.m., an event highlighting the continuity of the literary process even in today's challenging circumstances took place in the reading room of the Municipal Centralised Library System (MCLS). Its distinctive feature was a dialogue between writers from Ivano-Frankivsk and readers from Kherson, namely lecturers and students of Kherson State University, who had previously attended the presentation of issue No. 21 of the Bulletin of the Tavria Foundation. Published under the auspices of Kherson State University, the journal has been fulfilling its educational, scholarly, literary and local history mission for 21 years.

The delegation of writers was represented by the following authors: Yevhen Baran, Yaroslav Tkachivskyi, Ivan Havrylovych, Vasyl Babii, Lesia Henyk, Larysa Kolesnyk, Hanna Danyliuk, Natalia Radysh, Mykhailo Batih and Ivan Viitenko. Their literary contributions were delivered with inspiration and optimism. The writers presented their new works, featuring powerful civic themes and heartfelt lyricism, landscape sketches and philosophical reflections.

Yevhen Baran, Head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Organisation of the National Writers' Union of Ukraine, outlined the major milestones in the organisation's activities, its current creative achievements and prospects for further development. He also read excerpts from his book From the Book of the Living, presenting his essayistic reflections on life and the world.

In his address, Yaroslav Tkachivskyi, Deputy Chairman of the National Writers' Union of Ukraine, highly praised the creative achievements of Ivano-Frankivsk writers, who continue to reach their readers with dignity and dedication through their literary work, thus unequivocally demonstrating that the written and spoken word is a weapon. The presentations of all the writers reaffirmed this idea. They also demonstrated that their words can deeply move the human soul and touch its most delicate strings, as exemplified by Yaroslav Tkachivskyi's song Cornflowers, which has already become a popular folk song.

A particularly interesting creative experiment involved the recitation of two poems: “Oh, My Chuhaitrs!” by Lesia Henyk and “And the Scythian Woman Knows the Chuhaitr's Strength” by Vasyl Zahorodniuk. This poetic dialogue highlighted the intertwining of mountain and steppe imagery and its renewed relevance in the context of today's war.

As part of the event, a book exhibition featuring works by Ivano-Frankivsk authors was arranged in the reading room under the beautifully designed title Under Franko's Star. It showcased selected works by Yurii Andrukhovych, Myroslav Aronets, Yevhen Baran, Vasyl Babii, Mykhailo Batih, Mykhailo Veres, Mariia Vaino, Ivan Viitenko, Hanna Danyliuk, Volodymyr Kachkan, Larysa Kolesnyk, Volodymyr Prysiazhniuk, Stepan Pushyk, Mariia Tkachivska, Yaroslav Tkachivskyi, Iryna Fotuima, Marta Khorob, Roman Yuzva and Dmytro Yusyp.

The exhibition also attracted considerable attention with collective publications, including Under Franko's Star, The Stefanik Spirit, From a Wreath of Everlasting Leaves and Literature of the Native Region: An Anthology for Grades 5–11. Participants had an opportunity to explore these publications, engage in lively conversations with the authors and experience the special joy of face-to-face literary communication.

On behalf of the readers of Kherson, Yuliia Yurina, Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Journalism and Arts at Kherson State University, delivered a message of gratitude. She emphasised that meetings of this kind bring great positivity and uplifting emotions, inspire people to read and give them motivation to keep going and achieve victory.