Vladyslava Ilyinska

Vladyslava Ilyinska is a poet and translator who lives and works in Odesa. She is the author of the poetry books The Game of Mind (2014) and Anecdotes about Rain (2020), and a laureate of the Yurii Kaplan Literary Prize. She writes in Ukrainian and Russian, shaping her poetic voice in the space of Odesa – a city where languages, cultural codes, and different historical layers intersect. Ilyinska takes part in literary projects and poetry readings in Ukraine and abroad, including international festival and stage programmes. She is also involved in cultural and educational initiatives. She heads a charitable foundation that supports and develops educational and creative programmes for children, including literary practices. Vladyslava Ilyinska is a permanent member of the jury of New Odyssey, a children’s poetry competition created by Ilya Kaminsky, the Odesa UNESCO City of Literature Office, and Oleg Suslov of Vechirnia Odesa. She is also a translator in the Poetry in the UNESCO Cities of Literature project.

Selected works and projects

The Game of Mind, poetry book, 2014

Anecdotes about Rain, poetry book, 2020

Laureate of the Yurii Kaplan Literary Prize

Border / Between / Borders, poetic project about language, memory, and unstable reality after 2022

Permanent jury member of New Odyssey, children’s poetry competition

Translator in the Poetry in the UNESCO Cities of Literature project

Participant in literary projects, poetry readings, and international festival and stage programmes