About

The Ukrainian Book Challenge is a powerful annual call to action launched by the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) together with the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA) and with support from the HUCUS Foundation. Its mission is to amplify Ukrainian voices in English and ensure that translators, editors, and publishers can continue bringing Ukraine’s literature, history, and culture to global readers.

At its heart, the challenge asks each participant to do one small thing: buy one book in English about Ukraine or by a Ukrainian author—once a year. 

Affordable price for each title makes this act of solidarity more accessible to a wider community. Moreover, you don’t need to read the book right away. Simply, you can donate it to a library, gift it to a friend, or place it proudly on your shelf. 

About HURI

The Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) is a unit of Harvard University dedicated to advancing knowledge about Ukraine’s history, culture, and society. Through research, publications, and public programs, HURI brings Ukraine’s voice into global scholarly and cultural conversations.

“Every book sold is a vote for Ukrainian culture, because what russia’s war on Ukraine is really about is eradicating Ukrainian culture and erasing Ukrainian identity as a result,” said Oleh Kotsyuba, director of publications at HURI, who initiated the campaign. “When readers buy even one book, they make it possible for more Ukrainian authors to be heard—because this way global publishers know that there is sustained interest in such books, and so they can make a safe bet that publishing them won’t cause financial trouble for their business. Hard data like sales numbers is the foundation for decisions all publishers have to make when considering new titles for publication, and participants of this campaign can actively contribute to laying that foundation, one book at a time.”

About UNWLA

Founded in 1925, UNWLA has championed Ukrainian culture for 100 years. Through advocacy, education, and the promotion of Ukrainian literature, we preserve heritage, elevate voices, and strengthen Ukraine’s future.

“In the long-term perspective, this initiative goes far beyond solidarity,” said Anna Petelina, National Education Chair at UNWLA. “By buying, reading, and sharing Ukrainian books, Ukrainian-Americans and friends of Ukraine in the US and beyond help elevate Ukrainian voices and contribute to Ukraine’s cultural survival. After all, a book lives on only when someone opens and reads it—similarly, culture needs to be made tangible through engaging with it on an everyday basis if we want it to survive,” she added.

About HUCUS Foundation

The HUCUS Foundation (Help Ukraine Center USA) is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to spreading knowledge about Ukraine while delivering humanitarian aid. In addition to large-scale relief efforts, the Foundation supports advocacy initiatives and artistic projects that amplify Ukraine’s voice worldwide.

“The main goal of the HUCUS Foundation is to build bridges between Ukraine and the world,” said Oleksii Prokopenko, CEO at HUCUS Foundation. “Sharing knowledge about Ukraine is perhaps the most effective way of doing that. We believe that it is our duty to history and the future to ensure that the world sees and understands Ukraine as it truly is—a strong and culturally rich country. The Ukrainian Book Challenge is a timely and very much needed initiative to achieve that, we are honored to support it, and we urge you all to take the challenge. As for myself, I already have,” he remarked.

Why It Matters

Publishing Ukrainian books in English is still a fragile effort—translations are expensive, it’s a niche market, and sales remain uncertain. The Ukrainian Book Challenge builds visible, grassroots demand so that publishers can keep saying “yes” to Ukrainian topics, authors, and translators.

Launching this initiative with the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America—a community organization with an over 100-year-long history of supporting awareness campaigns on some of the most crucial issues pertaining to Ukraine—speaks to the strategic character and urgent need for investment in publications from and about Ukraine at this time.

How to Participate

  1. Buy one book in English about or from Ukraine.
  2. Take a photo with your chosen book.
  3. Tag five friends to join the challenge.
  4. Share your post on social media with #UkrainianBookChallenge and tag HURI Books.

That’s it: one book, one post, one act of solidarity.

Partnerships and Outreach

Through collaboration, the Ukrainian Book Challenge expands visibility for every press publishing Ukrainian work. Our outreach initiatives include:

  • Sharing the challenge widely on social media with #UkrainianBookChallenge while spotlighting publishers.
  • Cultivating a broad network of partners—publishers, public intellectuals, celebrities, Ukrainian community organizations, media outlets, and more.
  • Hosting curated reading lists, community picks, and featured titles on the campaign website.
  • Linking books directly to publishers’ URLs to maximize sales revenue and enable exclusive discounts.
  • Coordinating joint media and influencer outreach to amplify impact.
  • Maintaining the website as the campaign hub with rotating “book picks” and analytics to track coverage for each publisher individually.

Together, we can ensure Ukrainian stories are not only told but heard. The Ukrainian Book Challenge is more than a campaign—it is a movement of readers, communities, and partners who believe that every book purchased is a step toward preserving Ukraine’s culture in translation. Join us, and let your bookshelf become part of a global chorus of solidarity.

Campaign Team

The concept and realization of the Ukrainian Book Challenge belong to Oleh Kotsyuba. Editorial and administrative support for the campaign is provided by Kateryna Kuzmyk and Diana Gor.