Around 300 applications were reviewed by Ukrainian and Norwegian jury members during the selection process. The selected projects focused on contemporary Ukrainian life, including the social and human consequences of the war that has affected the country since 2014 and have intensified after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Each recipient received €5,000 of financial support for literary work during wartime. These grants are intended to help writers continue their projects despite unstable working conditions, economic pressure, displacement, and damage to homes and infrastructure.
Ukraine’s literary and publishing sector continues to operate despite major challenges. Printing facilities and book warehouses have been destroyed in Russian attacks, supply chains are frequently disrupted, and air raid alarms regularly interrupt production. At the same time, new publishers, bookstores, literary festivals, and reading initiatives are continuing to emerge across the country.
Literature plays an important role in Ukrainian society during the war, serving as a source of reflection, cultural connection, and community-building. Many writers are also directly involved in the war effort through military service, volunteer work, fundraising, and support for libraries and cultural institutions near the front lines.