Poetic Project in the Subway: New Voices from Europe

A new literary initiative has united poets from nine different nations in the undergrounds of Ukrainian cities.

In June, a project titled "Poems in the Metro 2025" commenced at metro stations in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, initiated by the Polish Institute in Kyiv in collaboration with the Ukrainian cluster EUNIC. This initiative coincides with Poland's presidency of the European Union Council.

As part of the project, poetic posters featuring works of nine contemporary authors from various countries have been displayed underground — both in the original language and in Ukrainian translation. The themes of the poems vary widely, with many addressing painful subjects, particularly the war in Ukraine and universal human experiences resonating in our times.

Among the featured artists are Bohdan Zadura (Poland), Peter Paul Wiplinger (Austria), Vicente Aleixandre y Merlo (Spain), Marius Burukas (Lithuania), Lisa Vida (Netherlands), Rosa Ausländer (Germany), Sándor Petőfi (Hungary), and Maria Illyashchenko (Czech Republic). A special part of the project is «Not Poetry» by Victoria Amelina — a Ukrainian writer and activist who tragically lost her life due to a missile strike in Kramatorsk in 2023.

The project is set to run through the end of June, with organizers indicating a possible extension into July.

Additionally, the Polish Institute in Kyiv hosted Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk for a solidarity visit in the city.