Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov, 63, is the author of internationally translated novels such as Death and the Penguin and Grey Bees. He is also an informed commentator on current events in Ukraine (Ukraine Diaries, 2014) and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which he documents in a war diary. The second opus, Our Daily War, was published in French in early February and will be released in English in June. Through his writings and public appearances, he has become one of Ukraine's leading voices abroad.

These were the most tragic years in the history of independent Ukraine. It was the second time in its history that the very existence of the country was called into question by Russia, with the same violence as during the war of independence, from 1917 to 1921. The difference is that this time, Ukraine is much more united and stronger, and the world supports its independence.

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