Ukrainian Identity, Freedom, and the Power of Storytelling

In this episode of Off the Record, Ambassador Natalka Cmoc sits down with world-renowned Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov to talk about identity, freedom, and the role of literature in times of war.

Kurkov, author of “Death and the Penguin and Grey Bees,” shares how he found his Ukrainian identity, why “freedom means more than stability” for Ukrainians, and how writers can become advocates for truth and resilience.

The two discuss what it means to be Ukrainian today, the power of storytelling during war, the difference between Ukrainian and Russian mentality, the cultural importance of Grey Bees, and literature as diplomacy.