WORDS HAVE THE POWER TO PRESERVE THE TRUTH: A BOOK EXHIBITION OPENED IN DNIPRO
On February 25, the Mariupol Reborn platform in Dnipro hosted the opening of the exhibition “Written by War: Testimonies Preserved in Books.”
The organizers were happy to share this important moment with everyone who participated. After all, this exhibition is more than just a collection of books. It is a living story that tells of pain, struggle, memory, and hope. Through fiction and non-fiction, collections of reports, eyewitness diaries, and memoirs, it captures the events that changed Ukraine, conveying the tragedy and resilience of our people.
Collecting testimonies through literature is not only a way to remind the world that the Russian-Ukrainian war continues, but also an opportunity to hear from those who have experienced the tragedy firsthand. Their stories, told in books, engrave the truth about loss, pain, struggle, and resilience in our hearts.
Books are more than printed pages. They preserve memory, which does not allow the truth to be lost in the distortions of propaganda. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, many new publications have appeared documenting the tragedy of Mariupol, the stories of its residents, the chronicle of the city's defense and life under occupation. These books have become the voices of those who were forced to leave their homes, survived the siege, and saw the destruction of the city with their own eyes.
At the opening of the exhibition, Viktoriia Lisohor, director of the Korolenko City Public Library, shared the story of how the library became a refuge for people fleeing the shelling during the siege of Mariupol in 2022. It was subsequently destroyed by Russian strikes, but its work continues - now in exile.
Words can be a weapon and can be heard long after the roar of artillery has died down. They can be not only a tool of propaganda, but also preserved memories. This is the meaning of the exhibition opened thanks to the initiative of the City of Mary team in partnership with the main library of Mariupol. After all, the library, even in exile, is a tool that helps to assert independence and realize that we are Ukrainians.
An important guest of the event was Svitlana Kotyash, the mother of one of the captured defenders from the 3011 brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, who had previously helped to create the Faces of the Unconquered exhibition.
Together with the Department of Cultural and Public Development of the Mariupol City Council and the I Am Mariupol IDP Support Center, the team continues to talk about the city's tragedy, preserve its cultural heritage, and support each other.
There is a bookshelf at the exhibition, which you can supplement with your own books or just come to read in a specially equipped space. If you have books about the Russian-Ukrainian war in your personal library, you can temporarily donate them for display in our space.
You can visit the exhibition both individually and in organized groups to touch history through words that have the power to change the world.
The exhibition will run until March 21.
Address: 11, Knyahynyi Olhy Street, Dnipro
Working hours: Mon - Fri: 10:00 - 18:00
For more information: (073) 940-67-22
