Displaced: Civilians in the Russia-Ukraine War

“Moving and illuminating.” - The Washington Post In Displaced, Russian journalist Valery Panyushkin chronicles the devastating impact of his country’s invasion of Ukraine. By uncovering the stories of ordinary Ukrainians thrust into the chaos of war, and transformed overnight from citizens into victims and refugees, Panyushkin sheds light on the brutal crimes committed by the Russian regime and offers a necessary act of truth-telling and atonement.  Panyushkin delves into individual lives shattered by conflict, illuminating the human cost of war beyond the battlefront. Through interviews with people from all walks of life, the book paints a vivid picture of the challenges, choices, and hopes of those caught in the turmoil of war.  Urgent and necessary, Displaced is not only a compelling account of loss and survival, but also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a call for empathy and solidarity, and a Russian writer’s tribute to the courage of the Ukrainian people.

About the Author :
Valery Panyushkin was born in 1969 in Leningrad. He has worked as a special correspondent for the newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti. He wrote a regular column in Gazeta.ru, and earned the title “Russia’s Golden Pen” for his journalism. He is the author of the books 12 Who Don’t Agree, Mikhail Khodorovsky, Gazprom, and Something Unnoticeable. He lives in Moscow and currently works as a correspondent for Snob magazine. Brian James Baer is the founding editor of the journal Translation and Interpreting Studies and the author of the monograph Other Russias. Together with Ellen Vayner, he has translated Red Crosses by Sasha Filipenko and Sacred Darkness by Levan Berdzenishvili. Ellen Vayner has translated short stories, magazine interviews, and a conceptual artistic project. Together with Brian James Baer, she has translated Red Crosses by Sasha Filipenko and Sacred Darkness by Levan Berdzenishvili.

Review :
“Vivid, moving and compelling, Displaced tells the story of the millions of Ukrainians forced to flee their country after Russia's brutal 2022 attack. It is a chronicle of the hardships and struggles faced by those who left their homes, and of the intrepid volunteers who helped them. Many refugee accounts - of bombardment and loss - are heartbreaking.”  “A work of rage and nuance. A searing exploration of Russia’s war and, indeed, of what it means to be Russian today.” “Panyushkin writes in vivid tableau.” “A courageous work by a Russian author willing to look beyond the rhetoric on both sides of the firing line.” “Poignant and peripatetic.” “Panyushkin has created a collage of vivid and varied oral accounts.” “Compassionate yet candid...the plight of those involved is what ultimately resonates.” “Displaced is an impressive and courageous work of journalism that warns readers, ‘Anyone can become a refugee.’’”