A novel about love in occupied Kherson has been pulled from publication in Germany

In Germany, the publishing house Molino Verlag has suspended publication of a novel about a romantic relationship between a Ukrainian woman and a Russian soldier in occupied Kherson. The publishers made this decision following a wave of sharp criticism online and accusations of romanticizing Russian aggression.

This was reported by the Stuttgarter Zeitung. 

According to the plot of the book *Who Am I When You See Me* by young author Yuna Librecht, the story unfolds in Kherson, which is occupied by Russian troops. The main character, Lucia, loses almost everything because of the war, but after an explosion, she is rescued by a masked Russian soldier. Subsequently, secret romantic feelings flare up between the Ukrainian civilian and the invader, which the author attempted to portray as “the triumph of humanity over external circumstances.”

The book’s release was scheduled for November 1, and its presentation was to take place at the book festival in Baden-Baden. Moreover, the project even received financial support in the form of a grant from the Baden-Württemberg Writers’ Association.

However, following the announcement, the publishing house found itself at the center of a major scandal. Readers and public figures accused the creators of a complete lack of sensitivity to the experiences of Ukrainians and of attempting to portray the Russian occupier as a “savior” against the backdrop of the real horrors of military occupation, violence, and torture.

The head of the publishing house, Matthias Slunichek, stated that the decision to cancel the publication was made jointly with the author in the face of widespread criticism. Yuna Librecht herself publicly apologized. 

Юлія Калабайда