Ukrainian writer, musician, and volunteer Serhiy Zhadan has been honored with the Austrian State Prize for European Literature 2025. This prestigious award is presented by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Sports of Austria, marking a significant recognition for a Ukrainian artist.

"Serhiy Zhadan captures the horrors of war and the pervasive fear. He restores the voice and identity of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression. His work possesses the literary power necessary to bear witness and offer hope in times of war and terror," stated Andreas Babler, the Federal Minister of Arts and Culture.

This award has been given since 1965 to European authors whose complete literary works have received significant international acclaim, evidenced by translations. The laureate receives a prize of 25,000 euros.

Zhadan studied German literature and has been a leading figure in the youth scene of Kharkiv since 1991.

He debuted in literature at the age of 17 and has published twelve poetry collections and seven prose works. He was awarded the Jan Michalski Prize and the Brücke Berlin Prize in 2014 for his book "Invention of Jazz in Donbas," known in Ukraine as "Voroshilovgrad," which was named "Book of the Decade" by the BBC.

In 2022, Zhadan received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, and last year he was appointed honorary professor of philosophy at the Ukrainian Free University in Munich.

In early June 2024, Zhadan officially confirmed that he had joined the National Guard. Alongside his service, he continues his volunteer activities, raising funds for military equipment and performing at charity concerts.