Hear Anna Talk Ukraine

Here’s the info:

HOME IS THE FRONT

Anna Bowles is an independent blogger and volunteer who has spent 14 months in Ukraine over the course of seven visits since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. She speaks Ukrainian and Russian, and immerses herself in local operations, sometimes going for weeks without encountering another Westerner. Consequently, her blog, Anna Talks Ukraine is one of the most highly regarded sources of information about Ukrainian volunteer activity on the ground along the eastern front, including the rapidly developing situation with drone attacks on civilians. As she is financially self-supporting, her reporting has no commercial angle, enabling her to go into depth, and convey nuance, in a way not always possible in contemporary journalism.

Her talk, entitled Home is the Front, uses her personal travels and expertise as a context for highlighting the work of local Ukrainian groups such as:

· The Union of Kramatorsk Volunteers: a group who conduct civilian evacuations from the ‘kill zone’ in Donetsk oblast.

· East Life: a community hub offering emergency aid such as hygiene items to refugees arriving in Kramatorsk city.

· Ukraine Will Win: a collective of women volunteers operating out of a former torture chamber in de-occupied territory.

· Masha and Jack: a Ukrainian-UK partnership who supply aid to the army all along the eastern front.

· Big Family: a free shelter for destitute disabled elderly people in Kharkiv.

· Druzi Space: a group who rescue and re-home animals abandoned near the front line.

Anna is currently in the UK, having returned from Ukraine in May. Her next trip is likely to be at the end of August. Until then, she is available for speaking engagements. Contact her on anna@annabowles.co.uk.

Shares of this post would be appreciated.

I haven’t done much public speaking in my life, but give me free rein to talk about my 14 months (so far) in Ukraine and I have plenty to say. So far this talk is booked in for three small groups in London, and I would like to arrange some more over the summer, if it’s not too short notice. Currently my plan is to return to Ukraine at the very end of August which means being back in the UK by the end of November at latest. So bookings are possible then too.

I’m happy to give the talk for free, or free plus travel expenses outside London, to seriously interested groups. Payment is of course welcome. The aim is, as ever, to spread awareness about grassroots Ukrainian volunteer groups, and ideally fundraise for them. Please contact me on the above email, and I will share my WhatsApp number direct.

My professionally published book of poetry is still on sale. I will be reading a couple of poems as part of the talk, but they are additional comments rather than the core material.

Landscape With Mines is available from Mica Press or the online bookseller of your choice. Brick-and-mortar bookshops are able to order it.

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