Dmytro Lazutkin, a Ukrainian poet, journalist, and television producer, brings a powerful and multifaceted voice to contemporary literature. A recipient of the 2024 National Taras Shevchenko Prize, Lazutkin’s work captures the raw realities of war, resilience, and identity. His latest book, Bookmarked (Lviv: Old Lion Publishing House, 2022), reflects his deep engagement with Ukraine’s turbulent present.
In Final Shot, Lazutkin delivers a harrowing account of war, recounting the death of a soldier whose leg was blown off in Avdiivka, an eastern city that fell to Russian forces in February 2024. This piece, reported in The New York Times (Aug. 25, 2024), stands as a stark testament to the brutality of conflict and the human cost of resistance. Lazutkin’s perspective is uniquely shaped by his experiences not only as a poet but also as a sports TV presenter and commentator, covering the Olympic Games in Beijing, Vancouver, and London. His background as a decorated athlete—holding a bronze medal in kickboxing and kick-jitsu at the World Cup and the title of Ukrainian champion in Cossack duel—adds another layer to his artistic and journalistic endeavors.
Through Final Shot, Lazutkin crafts a deeply moving and urgent narrative, blending poetry, journalism, and personal insight to bear witness to war and its lasting impact on those who endure it.
The project is part of the subtheme Healing Narratives - Poetry, Mental Health and Collective Trauma.
Author
Dmytro Lazutkin
Dmytro Lazutkin is a Ukrainian poet, journalist, and television producer. He is the recipient of the 2024 National Taras Shevchenko Prize. His latest book is “Bookmarked” (Lviv: Old Lion Publishing House, 2022). Lazutkin is also a sports TV presenter and commentator who has covered the Olympic Games in Beijing, Vancouver, and London. His athletic accomplishments include a bronze medal in kickboxing and kick-jitsu at the World Cup, and he holds the title of Ukrainian champion in Cossack duel, a national martial art.
