PEN Ukraine

PEN Ukraine is a cultural and human rights organization that unites Ukrainian journalists, writers, scholars, playwrights, publishers, translators, human rights activists, cultural managers, photographers, and illustrators. PEN Ukraine is one among 139 national centers of PEN International.

PEN activities in Ukraine are aimed at:

  • defending the freedom of speech and authors’ rights;
  • promotion of Ukrainian culture and literature;
  • preserving the values and standards of independent journalism;
  • establishing international cultural cooperation.

News

All news

Publications

All publications

Library of Ukrainian Pen

Treasures of Ukraine
Treasures of Ukraine
Dialogues on War
Dialogues on War
What will give us strength?
What will give us strength?
Words and Bullets
Words and Bullets
Life Went on Anyway: Stories
Life Went on Anyway: Stories
We will pass by others
We will pass by others
"Svitliy Shlyah": the history of one concentration camp
"Svitliy Shlyah": the history of one concentration camp
I Am Transforming… A Diary of Occupation. Selected Poetry
I Am Transforming… A Diary of Occupation. Selected Poetry
Free Voices of Crimea
Free Voices of Crimea
Go to the PEN library

Events

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Thoughts

All thoughts
Yermolenko Volodymyr Yermolenko Volodymyr
President of PEN Ukraine

Walls of Life

Mykhed Oleksandr Mykhed Oleksandr
Member of the Executive Council

The Language of War

Statements

All statements
PEN Ukraine’s statement on the new violation of humanitarian law from Russia

PEN Ukraine’s statement on the new violation of humanitarian law from Russia

PEN Ukraine shares heartfelt condolences with those affected by Russia’s massive attack launched on 24 March 2026 and calls upon the world for a ...

Ukrainian literature and culture should be heard around the world: Resolution of the IX Regional Meeting of PEN Centres

Ukrainian literature and culture should be heard around the world: Resolution of the IX Regional Meeting of PEN Centres

Representatives of various PEN Centres – PEN Spain, PEN Basque, PEN Norway, PEN Slovenia, PEN International (WIPC), PEN Belgium, PEN Canada, and ...

Statement on the broadcast suspend of Voice of America and financial suspend of Radio Liberty

Statement on the broadcast suspend of Voice of America and financial suspend of Radio Liberty

We could have expected Radio Liberty, Voice of America, or other media committed to truth and democracy to be silenced by Russia or other totalitarian ...

freedom of speech

All materials
Empty Chair: Writers in Prison Committee’s meeting

Empty Chair: Writers in Prison Committee’s meeting

On May 19, a meeting of the PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) took place, during which the Executive Director of PEN Ukraine ...

Journalists At War. The Monitoring of Russian Occupiers’ Crimes Against Independent Media in 2026

Journalists At War. The Monitoring of Russian Occupiers’ Crimes Against Independent Media in 2026

PEN Ukraine is documenting the losses among the media workers in the Russian war against Ukraine. As of May 4, 2026, 130 Ukrainian and foreign media workers ...

Journalists At War. The Monitoring of Russian Occupiers’ Crimes Against Independent Media in 2025

Journalists At War. The Monitoring of Russian Occupiers’ Crimes Against Independent Media in 2025

PEN Ukraine is documenting the losses among the media workers in the Russian war against Ukraine. As of December 22, 2025, 121 Ukrainian and foreign media ...

Awards

Vasyl Stus Prize
Yuri Shevelyov Prize
George Gongadze Prize
The European Union Prize for Literature
Drahomán Prize

Vasyl Stus Prize

The Ukrainian PEN has decided to take over the continuation of the Vasyl Stus Prize, founded in 1989 by the Ukrainian Association of Independent Creative Intelligentsia (UANTI) headed by Yevhen Sverstyuk (1928-2014), which was awarded annually on January 14 – St. Basil's Day.

Yuri Shevelyov Prize

The award was founded in 2013.

It is awarded once a year to a Ukrainian author for artistic and scientific essays published during the last year.

George Gongadze Prize

The award was established by PEN Ukraine in partnership with George Gongadze's family, Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, and the Ukrainian Pravda publication.

The European Union Prize for Literature

The European Union Literary Prize is an annual award designed to promote and internationally promote the work of not yet well-known but talented authors of fiction from various European countries.

Drahomán Prize

Award for translators from Ukrainian into world languages, founded in 2020 by the Ukrainian Institute, PEN Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Book Institute.

Support our work

We need your help to create projects and materials aimed to defend freedom of speech, popularize Ukrainian culture and values of independent journalism.

Your donation means support for discussions, awards, festivals, authors’ trips to regions and PEN book publications.

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Projects

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