A powerful new translation is bringing Luxembourg and Ukraine closer through literature. Iryna, a member of the LUkraine asbl, shared details about Das Karussell von Odessa, a moving poetry collection by German-language author Pit Hoerold which has now been translated into Ukrainian for the first time.

The new translation will be presented at Luxembourg’s LiteraTour festival in Bettembourg on 23rd April, the collection captures the emotional reality of the war in Ukraine through a series of poetic testimonies. Though Hoerold has never set foot in Ukraine, his ability to channel the voices of mothers, soldiers, and ordinary citizens living through conflict stunned readers. “He could feel more than politicians,” Iryna remarked. “It’s like he became Ukrainian through his words.”

The Ukrainian translation is being released just in time for a public presentation at the LiteraTour literary festival in Bettembourg on 23rd April. The project was made possible through collaboration with the the College of Alderman of the Commune Bettembourg and generous support from Hoerold himself, who donated the translation rights as a gesture of solidarity.

The translation was handled by Yevgeniya Inozemtseva, a Ukrainian linguist from a family of translators and edited by Iryna herself. “It was hard not to cry while working on it,” she shared, highlighting how deeply the poems resonated. One piece even targets Vladimir Putin with biting satire written in multiple languages, which is a reflection of the book’s multilingual and multicultural depth.

Beyond Ukraine’s pain, the collection also offers a look at Luxembourg’s cultural context, drawing parallels with historic battles and reflecting on shared European history. “It’s not just a Ukrainian story,” said Iryna, “it’s a story of people, of humanity.”