A nationwide flash mob has been launched to mark Lina Kostenko’s birthday

A nationwide flash mob, #LinaHappyToLiveNearby, has been launched in Ukraine to mark the birthday of the poet Lina Kostenko.

It is noted that the initiative was launched by Kyiv City Council member Olesia Pynzenyk.

To take part in the flash mob, the organisers are asking people to post videos on social media of themselves reading Lina Kostenko’s poetry or to share their favourite lines from her works using the hashtag #LinaHappyToLiveNearby.

According to Pynzenyk, the aim of the campaign is to unite Ukrainians around the figure of the poet, whose texts inspire different generations, shape civic attitudes and support society during a difficult time for the country.

The MP is convinced that the flash mob will help to popularise Ukrainian literature, preserve cultural memory and create a space for shared gratitude and respect for the work of Lina Kostenko, who is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Ukrainian culture.

Everyone is invited to take part in the event – artists, educators, students, schoolchildren, members of the public and fans of Ukrainian poetry, regardless of age or profession.

The article also notes that Lina Kostenko has made a significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian literature and the patriotic upbringing of several generations of Ukrainians.

In the Soviet Union, as noted, the writer was banned by the censors due to her political stance. As a result, she was unable to publish for a long time and, according to the data provided, wrote ‘for her desk drawer’ for around 16 years.

Her historical novel in verse, “Marusya Churai”, is mentioned separately and is described as a masterpiece of Ukrainian literature. According to the information provided, the manuscript lay in a drawer for over six years, and the work was first published in 1979.

The article also notes that since 2014, Lina Kostenko has been supporting Ukrainian soldiers on the front line. In particular, she joined the humanitarian initiative “The Second Front of the ATO”, through which she sent collections of her poetry to the troops.

One of the poet’s most famous quotes today is the phrase: “Every nation has its own illness. In Russia, it is incurable.”

Furthermore, the article noted that Lina Kostenko satirised the Russian Federation in a new poem she wrote in the hallway of her own home. In this piece, she also speaks of Ukrainians as a dignified nation heroically enduring the war against the occupiers.

The article also mentions creative work related to her poetry: artist and soldier of the 3rd GRABAR assault unit, Oleg Grabar, together with YUVI producer Ulyana Avtenyuk, released a joint song “CHTMS”, in which they combined original lyrics with Lina Kostenko’s poem “Are You My Dream”.

It is also noted that in May 2024, the Kyiv City Council awarded the title of “Honorary Citizen of Kyiv” to Lina Kostenko and Valerii Zaluzhnyi.