.
I received the following letter from Bohdan Stasiuk, a science fiction and fantasy writer from Ukraine who tells me it was created by the Ukrainian science fiction community. It looks to be the real thing. But, as always, you should check the validity of the links before contributing any money. It's easy enough to do.
A
letter from Ukrainian artists to world artists!
On
Thursday, February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation started the war
against Ukraine and attacked our country. As we write this letter, the
army of the aggressor country kills our children, bombs cities and
civilians, and already turned more than 1,700,000 Ukrainians into
refugees. In an attempt to further occupy our lands, Russia at the same
time uses aggressive propaganda to justify its war crimes. Russian
citizens are consistently being lied to about what is really happening in
Ukraine.
We
believe that not all Russian citizens are fans of Putin’s regime and not
all of them justify this war. We know that plenty of Russians feel scared
to use their voices and speak up against Putin’s regime. Many believe it
is none of their business. Yet, there are also many who believe in the
righteousness of Putin and his propaganda.
So, we
plead with you — writers and visual content creators that have big
audiences of readers and followers in Russia. To them, your opinion and
your words matter. Your stand on the war in Ukraine matters. Please,
stand by us as we fight for our values, our democracy, and our freedom.
For the right to be Ukrainians and live in Ukraine. Your powerful voices
can influence these Russian readers and followers. To encourage them to
be brave, connect with their values, and take a stand on ending this
ruthless war.
Please,
take this message to your platforms and address your Russian and
Ukrainian audiences. The first ones need your encouragement to believe in
the power of their voices against Putin’s regime. The second ones are in
desperate need of support and kindness.
We
encourage the international community of fans of science fiction & fantasy,
writers, artists, editors to boycott the Russian book market until the
war in Ukraine ends and the country is free from Russian occupation.
Until Putin’s regime is condemned as criminal and Putin and his closest
allies are punished. As Ukrainians, we are working on this to happen day
and night but there are bureaucratic procedures
that
make the process so much slower in critical times where every second
counts and can save Ukrainian lives.
Here
are the ways in which you can help our country:
1.
Please, reroute the funds received from Russia to either of the Ukrainian
charity foundations that take care of refugees and restore what was
ruined by Russia:
https://eu-ua.com/
https://donate.redcrossredcrescent.org/ua/donate/~my-donation?_cv=1
https://ua-aid-centers.com/#features
https://tabletochki.org/
https://mirco.com.ua/
The
National Bank of Ukraine has opened an account for humanitarian aid to
Ukrainians affected by Russian aggression. The account will be used to
credit charitable assistance from Ukraine and abroad. The Ministry of
Social Policy will use the funds raised to provide support to the
citizens of Ukraine who suffer the most from the war. See below.
2. If
possible, terminate contracts and collaborations with Russian publishers.
Do not let them use the money they earn on publishing your work to fund
the war in Ukraine.
3.
Publicly denounce any further collaboration with Russia until it stops
its aggression.
I will
add that the following writers have already supported us by announcing a
complete refusal to cooperate with the Russian Federation: Stephen King,
Neil Gaiman, Joe Abercrombie, Rebecca Kuang, Michal Cetnarowski, John
Crowley, Jakub Cwiek, Piotr Gociek, Piotr Górski, Jaroslaw Grzedowicz,
Marcin A. Guzek, Anna Kantoch, Marta Kladz-Kocot, Tomasz Kolodziejczak,
Jacek Komuda, Rafal Kosik, Maja Lidia Kossakowska, Marta Barbara
Krajewska, Pawel Majka,Tomasz Nizinski, Lukasz Orbitowski, Michal
Protasiuk, Adam Przechrzta, Marcin Podlewski, Radek Rak, Magdalena Salik,
Arkady Saulski,
Wit Szostak, Robert M. Wegner, Cezary Zbierzchowski, Wojciech
Zembaty.
It is
of paramount importance for these actions to be made public. This will
allow your readers to learn about your stand on the war in Ukraine and
help those content creators who are still hesitant about condemning
Russia’s aggression to take a stand, too.
It goes
without saying that either of these actions is an act coming out of free
will. We are grateful for any support. We are sure that the war that
currently unfolds in the middle of Europe is not only Ukraine’s war. This
is the war aimed at undermining and destroying the values of free
civilizations. In times of peace, we guard these values via our novels,
art, songs. Alas, this is not enough in times of war.
If you
are not sure you have enough information to make an informed decision on
taking a stand on what is currently happening in Ukraine, please see
these resources.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/
https://kyivindependent.com/
https://t.me/ukraine4world
If you
have any questions we are willing to provide you with answers. There can
be delays in answering as many of us are often hiding in shelters from
active bombing. Others rely on very unstable internet and phone
connections while keeping in touch in these days of the war. There can be
delays in responses, we apologize in advance.
Also,
it is important to note that neither of us, the authors of this letter
need any urgent help. It is our country that is in a state of a
humanitarian crisis, desperately seeking support and allies.
When
taking to your platforms and speaking about Ukraine and war in our
country, please use these tags.
#SFaccessdenied
#StopBusinessInrussia
#StopFundTheWar
#StandWithUkraine
Thank
you for taking the time to read this letter. Thank you for your
support.
Volodymyr
Arenev, writer
Olena
Hlushchenko, social activist
Sergij
Legeza, translator
Alisa
Lindeman, writer, screenwriter
Myhajlo
Nazarenko, literary critic
Olena
Odynoka, Head of International Cooperation Department, Ukrainian Book
Institute
Daria
Piskozub, writer
Anatolij
Pityk, translator
Kateryna
Pityk, translator
Marija
Shahury, translator
Bohdan
Stasiuk, translator
Svitlana
Taratorina, writer
Ksenia
Tomasheva, writer, co-founder of LITavytsia
Alona
Silina, culture manager
Oksana
Pronko, Fantasy & SF fanzine 'Svit Fentezi' (World of Fantasy),
Editor, Reviewer, Book Blogger
Olha
Cheryba, Blogger
Andrii
Novikov, Writer
Kateryna
Pekur, Writer
Olha
Tkach, writer
Nata
Hrytsenko, translator
Iryna
Hrabovska, Writer
Ules
Skela, writer
Daria
Kononenko, writer
Vera
Balatska, writer and teacher
Maria
Panfiorova, writer, editor
Usmanova
Olexandra, reader
Pavlo
Derevianko, writer
Mia
Marchenko, writer, translator
Yulia
Syromolot, translator, writer
Borys
Sydiuk, producer, translator, nominated vice-chair of ESFS (2004- 2006)
Katya
Natalenko, Editor
Darya
Grebelnyk , writer & founder of arkush.net (ukrainian epub
platform)
Andriy
Baglay, programmer, co-founder of arkush.net (ukrainian epub
platform)
Nata
Yureva ,writer
Andrij
Ghorbunov, writer
Nataliia
Matolinets, Writer
Iia
Novytska, Editor of fanzine Das ist fantastisch!
Hanna
Lytvynenko, Translator
Diana
Semak, marketer, publishing house "NK-Bogdan" Iryna Pasko ,
Philologist, writer
Maria
Galina , writer, translator
Kondratenko
Nataliia, writer
Katarina
,Writer
Andriy
Yurkiv , Software engineer
Anastasia
Trofymenko,literary critic
Anhelina
Drachenko ,Student, illustrator
Ivan
Sirchenko, book blogger
Viktor
Hundiak, Sculptor
Serhiy
Krykun , Artist, translator
Onim
Alek , operator
Olexandr
Ihnatenko, writer
Shvets
Viktoria, Teacher
Sofiia
Rudenko, Bookblogger
Ksenija
Sokulska , translator
Pavlo
Cherepiuk ,writer
Ilchuk
Lyudmila, copywriter
Maxym
Lytvynenko, Writer
Denys
Solomonyuk, engineer, PhD, writer
Skriplyonok
Kateryna, Writer
Olha
Melnychuk , Student
Anastasiia
Posukhova (Kvitkova),student, translator, tutor Oksana Skyhar, Student
Olga
Migel, Writer
Kateryna
Yakobets , student
Yuriy
Boyko , Writer
Natalia
Lutsyshyn , Software engineer
Vasyl
Fedorii, Reader
Illia
Prokopenko, Journalist, proofreader, reader
Dara
Korniy, writer
Ianina
Lymar, Head of scientific and technical activities group of scientific
research and technical development deparment of V.Shimanjvsky Ukrainian
institute of Steel construction
Victor
Voitenko, Artist
Tanya
Kondratiuk, Teacher
Maryna
Dubyna, Editor-in-Chief, Boryviter publishing; literary translator Maria
Pukhliy. translator
Vus
Nataliia, Managing editor, reader
Olena
Sheremet, Translator
Andriychuk
Volodymyr, writer
Olexiy
Myhailiuk, Teacher
Oleksandra
Stepanishcheva , Freelance Copywriter
Iryna
Bilyk, Student
Vitaliy
Genyk, Writer
Dasha
Luneva, editor
Oleh
Silin, writer
Valeriya
Malahova, writer, translator
Svitlana
Patra, Writer, blogger.
Kateryna
Lysytska, bookseller
Lusutska
Ludmila, manager
ALINA
ZAVHORODNIA, QA engineer
Sokol
Iryna, Arist
Iryna
and Taras Fonrud , writers
Larysa
Dundiy , Writer
Olena
Krasnoselska, writer
Larisa
Illyuk, writer
Daniel
Woolf, teacher
Elizabeth
Khoptynska , Student
Oleg
Korniichuk, writer
Viktoria
Yakowchuk, Student
Solomia
Bzhezinska , Psychologist
Olena
Krasnoselska, writer