Victoria Amelina died shortly before she was to leave Ukraine to compile her war diary into a book. She left behind an 11-year-old son in another country. She wanted to document the injustice of Russia’s centuries-long attempt to obliterate Ukrainian culture. Before the Russian invasion, she organized Ukrainian literary festivals. After the invasion, she documented war crimes against humanity from this wave of conflict and recurring genocidal attempts throughout history to erase Ukrainian self-identity.
Amelina’s goal was to document a case for justice against Russian crimes against humanity compiling in genocide. Her call for justice shines clearly throughout. A realist who’s studied far too much history, I’m skeptical full justice will ever come. I laud her documentation and her passionate voice for her people. I applaud her cause fully. A lasting solution, however, cannot be achieved at court but only with governmental and cultural change in Russia. They have to get over their false dreams of Russian glory. I wish I knew how to do this. I wish someone, anyone knew how to do this. Amelina’s text certainly drives home the need.
This book is moving, and it deserves a wide readership. I applaud those who compiled the book posthumously and famous literati like Margaret Atwood who are bringing attention to readers. To say it’s eye-opening is an understatement; it vividly portrays dehumanization, in a way that perhaps only great women writers can. Though unfinished, it deserves a place among other great war literature like The Red Badge of Courage or even War and Peace. It left me tragically sad for Ukrainian culture yet ironically determined for its persistence. It left me most sad for Amelina’s son who will never meet his mom again. Perhaps someday, he will appreciate and be mildly consoled that his mom left behind this gem for the world to read.
Looking at Women Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary
By Victoria Amelina
Narrated by Jesse Vilinsky
Text copyright (c) 2025
St. Martin’s Press
Audio copyright (c) 2025
Audible Studios
ASIN B0DXFKLFBH
Length: 9:52
Genre: Current Events
www.amazon.com