Landscape with healing herbs: An essay by Ukrainian writer Yulia Stakhivska

July 5, 2025

The article examines how cultural life continues to flourish in the Ukrainian towns west of Kyiv—Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, and Vorzel—despite the devastation caused by Russia's 2022 invasion. The author takes readers on a personal journey through these locations, highlighting their rich artistic history, from Ukrainian impressionist Oleksandr Murashko to composer Borys Lyatoshynsky, while also noting how residents are reclaiming spaces through new bookstores, art installations, and cultural venues. Throughout the piece, the author weaves together descriptions of war damage with symbols of resilience and renewal, emphasizing how these communities are preserving their cultural heritage and creating new artistic expressions as forms of healing amid ongoing conflict.

Who is affected

Residents of Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, and Vorzel who are rebuilding their lives and cultural spaces
Ukrainian artists, writers, and cultural workers creating new work in these areas
Local business owners establishing cultural venues like the "Ye" bookstore chain and the BookHub "Vich/na/Vich"
Specific artists mentioned including poets Daryna Gladun and Lesyk Panasiuk who can no longer live in their destroyed apartment
Designer Svitlana Hryb and film director Serhiy Spizhovyi who founded the "Lisova, 3" art space
Visitors and tourists who now experience these locations through the lens of both their cultural heritage and recent tragedy

What action is being taken

New cultural spaces are being established, such as the "Ye" bookstore in Bucha and BookHub "Vich/na/Vich" in Hostomel
The Kosenko Art Gallery near Buchansky Park continues to host exhibitions despite the war
Artists are creating installations and projects that reflect on the war experience, including the student exhibition "Irpin. Graphic Stories"
The Lisova, 3 art space is providing psychological support workshops for displaced persons and residents
Cultural heritage sites like the Uvarov House in Vorzel are being maintained as museums that preserve local history
Regular cultural events continue to be held, including the annual International Operetta Festival O-Fest in Bucha's park

Why it matters

Cultural continuity provides resilience and strength for communities traumatized by war
The artistic history of these towns offers a counternarrative to their current association with tragedy
Creative expression serves as a form of healing for landscapes and communities marked by violence
Preserving Ukrainian cultural identity directly challenges Russian narratives that deny Ukrainian existence
These cultural activities represent both resistance and normalization—allowing residents to maintain some semblance of pre-war life
The arts provide documentation of war experiences while also creating spaces for community connection

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices