Vova, A Ukrainian Refugee Child Poet

About this poem

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, leaving in its wake thousands of casualties on both sides, including many Ukrainian civilians, among them women and children. The Russo-Ukrainian war which, historically, was started by Russia in February 2014, following the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity, continues to be a costly engagement that shows no immediate signs of permanent ceasefire. In March 2022 U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the United States of America would welcome 100,000 refugees from the Ukraine hoping desperately to flee Russia’s invasion and pillage of their country. In New York, a 13-year old Ukrainian refugee boy and child poet, who expresses himself and his aspirations for a new life of freedom by writing poetry, is one such Ukrainian fortunate enough to escape the scourge of warfare, yet still traumatized by its physical and psychological scars. This 6-stanza Tanka poem, “Vova A Ukrainian Refugee Child Poet,” was inspired by Vova Ovcharenko’s driven thirst for freedom, brought to my attention by my son, a Chief Investigator at the office of the New York Stare Attorney General, in contact with Vova and his refugee family members. more »