Renowned writer, musician, and volunteer Serhiy Zhadan has received the prestigious Austrian State Prize for European Literature 2025. This marks the first time a Ukrainian author has been honored with this award.

"Serhiy Zhadan embodies the horrors of war and the unspeakable fear, restoring the voice and identity of the Ukrainian people amidst Russian aggression. His literature expresses what everyday language cannot convey. It possesses the literary strength necessary to serve as testimony and provide hope in times of terror," stated Austrian Minister of Arts and Culture Andreas Babler.

The award has been presented since 1965 for the significant literary achievements of a European author whose work has gained international recognition and is available in German translation. The laureate receives €25,000.

Zhadan studied German literature and earned a PhD in Ukrainian futurism. Since 1991, he has been a leading figure in Kharkiv's cultural scene.

He made his literary debut at the age of 17 and has published twelve poetry collections and seven prose works. In 2014, he received the Jan Michalski Prize for his book "The Invention of Jazz in Donbass," known in Ukraine as "Voroshilovgrad," which was named "Book of the Decade" by the BBC.

In 2022, Zhadan was awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, and last year he received the title of Honorary Professor of Philosophy at the Ukrainian Free University in Munich.

In early June 2024, he confirmed his enlistment in the National Guard, continuing his volunteer efforts to raise funds for military equipment and performing at charity concerts.