An evening of reflection at Ukraine House as we explored the intersection of language, identity, and resilience with acclaimed author Volodymyr Rafayenko.

We were honored to host a deep discussion on his masterful novel Mondegreen and his personal transformation as a writer. Rafayenko, a native of Donetsk and a scholar of russian philology, shared the powerful story of his transition from writing exclusively in russian to becoming a leading voice in contemporary Ukrainian literature.

Key highlights from the discussion:

• Following the 2014 invasion of his home city, Rafayenko moved to Kyiv and spent three years mastering the Ukrainian language. He described this not just as a linguistic shift, but as a journey to reclaim his national identity.​

• We explored how this novel, shortlisted for the Taras Shevchenko National Prize, serves as a brilliant study of memory and the displaced experience.

• Rafayenko spoke on the impact of the full-scale invasion, reaffirming his commitment since February 24, 2022, to write and publish only in Ukrainian.

A sincere thank you to our co-sponsors, Soyuz Ukrainok (Washington DC branch) and UCCA, for their support in bringing this essential conversation to the heart of the capital. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who joined us for this evening of intellectual and cultural discovery.