Ukrainian writer Serhiy Zhadan intends to join Ukraine’s National Guard
"There are no writers or non-writers, musicians or non-musicians – there are citizens of Ukraine who feel responsible for their country."
Ukrainian writer, musician, and volunteer Serhiy Zhadan intends to mobilize into the ranks of Ukraine’s National Guard brigade “Khartia,” reported in a live broadcast on 25 March.
Serhiy Zhadan is a Ukrainian writer and frontman of the band Zhadan and the Dogs. He is the author of a number of novels, including Depeche Mode, Voroshilovgrad, and Boarding School, and poetry collections, including The Citation Book, Ethiopia, and The Life of Maria. In March 2022, the Committee on Literary Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences nominated Serhiy Zhadan for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Zhadan, visiting his patronage brigade in the Luhansk Oblast, said, “Today there are no writers or non-writers, musicians or non-musicians – there are citizens of Ukraine who feel responsible for their country.”
“The military, in principle, equalizes everyone. Because our military is a fairly accurate reflection of Ukrainian society,” the poet said
Zhadan did not say directly about his plans in the broadcast but shared it with journalist Maria Malevska. She said, “Standing here, in the Serebryansky Woods, the writer confesses that the brigade soon will have another addition. Zhadan and one of his musicians are also joining the military ranks.”
The Ukrainian poet volunteered for Ukraine’s military since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He founded a charitable foundation that supports educational and cultural initiatives. In particular, he launched the project East Reads to fill libraries in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts with books.
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