Ukrainian novelist Victoria Amelina, who worked tirelessly to preserve the diary of a fellow writer murdered by Russian forces, has been killed in a recent attack in Kapytolivka, Ukraine.
Preserving the Past: Last year, Amelina worked to recover the diary of children’s author Volodymyr Vakulenko, which detailed life under Russian occupation.
* The diary was buried in Vakulenko’s backyard to protect it from Russian forces that occupied the region.
* With assistance from a museum, Amelina worked to restore the water-damaged diary and publish its contents.
Amelina’s Contributions: A promising author and human rights advocate, Amelina went beyond her literary work to assist Ukraine during the Russian invasion.
* She hosted displaced Ukrainians, delivered humanitarian aid, and trained as a war crimes researcher for the Ukrainian organization Truth Hounds.
* She also spoke internationally about the erasure of Ukrainian culture and the murder of its intellectuals by Russia, framing the contemporary crisis as a recurrence of historical violence.
Fatal Attack: Amelina’s life was claimed by a missile explosion in a restaurant in Kramatorsk, in the eastern region of Ukraine.
* The missile attack resulted in 13 deaths including Amelina’s.
* Her death occurred on what would have been Vakulenko’s 51st birthday.
Legacy Left Behind: In the wake of her death, Amelina’s work in preserving Ukrainian manuscripts and her advocacy for Ukraine’s cultural heritage have become part of her own legacy.
* Her efforts have been recognized across Ukraine, with citizens in her hometown of Lviv showing signs of respect usually reserved for fallen soldiers during her funeral.
* The diary Amelina saved, entitled “I Am Transforming: A Diary of Occupation,” has been published, carrying forward Vakulenko’s story and, by extension, Amelina’s commitment to preserving Ukrainian culture.
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