26-29.10.2023
Messukeskus, Messuaukio 1, 00520 Helsinki

This year, our Association will participate at the Helsinki Book Fair for the first time.
We will host a stand and three events organized in cooperation with Ukrainian and
Finnish partners. At our stand #7a140 you will be able to buy books in Ukrainian,
Finnish and English, get autographs of our guests from Ukraine (Oleksandr Mykhed
and Olena Braichenko), as well as buy the Association’s cool branded merchandise.

Oleksandr Mykhed is a writer, member of PEN Ukraine and curator of art projects.
His articles are published in The Guardian, Financial Times etc. At the book fair he
will have a conversation with Sofi Oksanen regarding Ukrainian sisu, the strength of
the Ukrainian people. Also, Mykhed will present his ninth book “Language of War.
Chronicles of the Invasion”, which was published in Ukraine in June.

Olena Braichenko is a researcher of gastronomic culture, host of a radio program
and director of the їzhak publishing house. At the Show Kitchen at Viini & Ruoka she
will make two types of salad with tomatoes and Ukrainian sheep cheese, dressed
with legendary Drohobych salt and home-made oil. To learn more about Ukrainian cuisine and flavors, please purchase the gorgeous album “Ukraine: Food and
History” (a joint project of the їzhak publishing house and the Ukrainian Institute).

Presentation: Ukraine. Food and History
26.10, 14.00-14.30 
Viini & Ruoka, Show Kitchen
Olena Braichenko

During this event you’ll become acquainted with key Ukrainian meals and products.
We will cook two kinds of salad with traditional ingredients and will tell you about their
meaning in the gastronomic culture of Ukraine. The event includes the presentation
of the cookbook “Ukraine: Food and History” (the book will be available for sale at the
stand of Ukrainalaisten yhdistys Suomessa). The event is in Ukrainian with Finnish
translation. Ukrainalaisten yhdistys Suomessa, Ukrainian Institute, їzhak publishing
house.

Discussion: Ukrainian sisu
27.10, 19.00-19.30
Senaatintori Stage 
Oleksandr Mykhed, Sofi Oksanen

2024 will mark 10 years of the Russo-Ukrainian war and two years of its
intensive phase. What gives Ukrainians the strength to handle dramatic
losses? Oleksandr Mykhed, whose family witnessed occupation in Bucha, is
reflecting on the topic in his newly released book “Language of War.
Chronicles of Invasion”. Together with Sofi Oksanen, who’s researching
Russian crimes in the ongoing war, they will be discussing what Ukrainian
sisu is. The event is in English and will be streamed online. Ukrainalaisten
yhdistys Suomessa, Ukrainian Institute

Discussion: Wartime children’s literature in Ukraine

29.10, 15.00-15.30
Kumpula 
Maria Turtschaninoff, Eero Balk, Eveliina Viitanen, moderator Mirkka
Hynninen 

We invite you to join the talk about literature for children during a war. How to
tell them about a traumatizing experience? Is there a space for dreams and a
future? What kind of stories do wartime children need? The discussions will
be based on the collection “Pieniä tarinoita lapsille / nuorille” (2023) and
“Ilmahälytysten lapset” (2023) written by the Ukrainian author and lawyer
Larysa Denysenko and translated by Eero Balk. Ukrainalaisten yhdistys
Suomessa, Ukrainian Institute, Tammi, Pelastakaa Lapset.

Partner: Ukrainian Institute
Supported by Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland, City of Helsinki,
Arts Promotion Centre Finland.