After 22 Years Together, Ukrainian Writers Bondar and Andrukhovych Announce Their Separation

Ukrainian Literary Couple Parts Ways

According to Главком: Ukrainian authors Andriy Bondar and Sofia Andrukhovych have announced the end of their 22-year relationship. The pair shared the news in a joint statement posted to their respective Facebook accounts. While the reasons behind the split were not disclosed, both expressed gratitude for the years they spent together.

About Andriy Bondar and Sofia Andrukhovych

Born in 1974 in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Andriy Bondar is a Ukrainian poet, essayist, translator, and public commentator. He is a graduate of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and previously served as editor-in-chief of the Association of Ukrainian Writers' newspaper 'Literatura Plus.' Bondar also ran a literary column for 'Dzerkalo Tyzhnia' and is a recipient of the Smoloskyp Publishing House Award. His essay collection 'Tserebro' was named BBC Book of the Year in the Essays category. Recognized as one of the leading translators of Polish literature into Ukrainian, he has rendered works by Witold Gombrowicz into his native language. Bondar was an active participant in the Euromaidan protests from their earliest days, and since 2022, he has regularly offered public commentary on socio-political events.

Sofia Andrukhovych, born in 1982 in Ivano-Frankivsk, is a Ukrainian novelist, translator, and public intellectual. She is the daughter of writer Yuri Andrukhovych. She made her literary debut in 2002 with the novel 'Summer of Milena,' but gained widespread acclaim for her 2014 novel 'Felix Austria,' which was later adapted into the film 'Viddana.' Her 2020 novel 'Amadoka,' spanning over 800 pages, also earned significant recognition, winning the BBC Book of the Year and LitAkcent of the Year awards. Additionally, 'Amadoka' received the Sholem Aleichem Prize and the International Hermann Hesse Prize. Andrukhovych translates from English and Polish, including works by Kazuo Ishiguro.

The couple married in the early 2000s and welcomed their daughter, Varvara, in 2008. In their statement, Andriy Bondar remarked:

“The 22 years of our shared life with Sofia Andrukhovych have come to an end. Accepting this fact was not easy for either of us, but we must move forward. These were 22 thrilling and deeply meaningful years-an entire era. Now, each of us will walk our own path. With gratitude and warmth.”

Andriy Bondar

Sofia Andrukhovych is currently working on new texts following the release of her novel 'Katananke,' which came out during the full-scale war.

The separation of Andriy Bondar and Sofia Andrukhovych marks a significant moment in Ukraine's cultural landscape, as both writers have made substantial contributions to contemporary Ukrainian literature. Their shared creative work and active public engagement have reflected the evolution of Ukrainian identity over recent decades. After two decades of marriage, the couple leaves behind not only a personal story but also a cultural legacy that will continue to influence their writing and Ukraine's literary scene.