According to the Interfax-Ukraine Culture project, about 100 translations of Ukrainian books will be published in 2026 in 33 countries around the world under the Translate Ukraine translation support program, said Oleksandra Koval, acting director of the Ukrainian Book Institute, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“This year, under the Translate Ukraine program alone, about 100 translations of Ukrainian books will be published in 33 countries around the world. And in total, since the program’s inception in 2020, we have supported about 300 translations,” Koval said.
According to her, the sale of translation rights for Ukrainian books is currently one of the most successful avenues for Ukrainian literature to enter the international market.
Koval noted that Ukraine remains a key topic for the international cultural community, which contributes to growing interest in Ukrainian authors and their works abroad.
She emphasized that one of the most significant changes in recent years has been the perception of Ukraine as a distinct and independent participant in the international book market.
“Ukraine has finally become a distinct and independent entity in the international book market. It is no longer perceived as part of the Russian-speaking sphere and is increasingly associated with its own language, literature, and culture,” Koval emphasized.
According to the Ukrainian Book Institute, the database of translations of Ukrainian literature already includes over 1,500 titles in various languages of the world. The works of Andriy Kurkov, Serhiy Zhadan, Yuriy Andrukhovych, Oksana Zabuzhko, and the “Agrafka” creative workshop have the most translations. Among the new wave of authors who are actively attracting the attention of foreign publishers and readers, Koval highlighted Artem Chapay, Oleksandr Mykhed, Yevheniia Kuznetsova, Sofiia Andrukhovych, and Yuliia Ilyukha. At the same time, she recalled the significant contribution to the promotion of Ukrainian literature abroad made by the writers Viktoria Amelina and Volodymyr Vakulenko, who died during the war.
At the same time, one of the main challenges for the further promotion of Ukrainian literature abroad remains the shortage of translators from the Ukrainian language. According to Koval, demand for Ukrainian books is growing faster than the number of specialists capable of providing high-quality translations, and many translators already have orders booked several years in advance.
The head of the UIC also noted that international book fairs play an important role in promoting Ukrainian authors, where Ukrainian publishers negotiate new translations, contracts, and partnerships.
As reported, book piracy remains one of the biggest problems facing the Ukrainian publishing market and costs the industry hundreds of millions of hryvnias in losses every year.
