Odesa writer becomes laureate of the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Literary Prize

Valeriy Puzik, a writer from Odesa, won the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Prize for the best coverage of military topics in works of literature and art in 2025.

As the writer himself said, it was a surprise for him.

"Every day I learn something new: this year's Bohdan Khmelnytsky Prize has been awarded: in the nomination "Literary works on military topics" to writer Valeriy Puzik for his book "With Love, Dad!".

The collection of essays "Love, Dad!" is a book written on the front line, as a kind of conversation between a father and his son, who remains far away but at the same time is always close, in the heart. It does not contain battle scenes or descriptions of battles. The book is conceived by the author as a living testimony to the historical events taking place in Ukraine.

Every year, since 2009, on the occasion of the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on December 6, a committee consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Union of Writers, the National Union of Journalists and other creative unions operating on a voluntary basis awards the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Prize for the best coverage of military topics in works of literature and art in several nominations.

In 2025, in addition to Valeriy Puzik, the winners of the award were

• in the nomination "Works of Theater Art on Military Themes": director Serhiy Pavliuk and actor Volodymyr Tuka of the Kherson Regional Academic Music and Drama Theater named after Mykola Kulish for the one-man show "One Day Hero";
• in the nomination "Works of Cinematic Art on Military Themes": director, screenwriter and cinematographer Yevhen Mazurenko for the feature-length documentary Perun's Flute;
• in the nomination "Works of Fine Arts on Military Themes": artist Vasyl Telychko-Evert for his series of graphic works "Diary".

The prize is awarded for works of literature and art, journalism and publicism.

Кирило Бойко