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I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv
A raw, irreverent account of a young Ukrainian reporter on-the-ground as his country heroically defends itself against the Russian invasion.
In late February 2022, a series of missiles and rocket strikes began falling upon Ukraine, as the Russian military barreled over the border and fanned out across the country. First they took Chernobyl, then Kherson, then Mariupol. Time stood still as the world waited for Ukraine to flatten underneath the boot of its neighbor.
Meanwhile, on the front lines in the capital city, Kyiv Independent reporter Illia Ponomarenko was seeing a different story on after months―years―of waiting for this long-feared attack, Ukraine was fed up and ready to fight back. The Russians bogged down hard in combat east and west of Kyiv. They got exhausted. They screwed up logistics. They sustained heavy losses. Their unbelievably overconfident blitz was failing.
The Battle of Kyiv is Illia Ponomarenko’s heart-wrenching memoir of the war on his homeland, offering a fiery diatribe against Russian hypocrisy and a moving look at what is being lost. But it’s also a story of pride and even elation as Ukrainian forces come together, find their mojo, and oust the invaders from Kyiv. The most powerful and personal chronicle of the war to date, The Battle of Kyiv is an exceptional literary achievement, chronicling a stunning feat of resistance and a courageous people set on a miraculous victory.
In late February 2022, a series of missiles and rocket strikes began falling upon Ukraine, as the Russian military barreled over the border and fanned out across the country. First they took Chernobyl, then Kherson, then Mariupol. Time stood still as the world waited for Ukraine to flatten underneath the boot of its neighbor.
Meanwhile, on the front lines in the capital city, Kyiv Independent reporter Illia Ponomarenko was seeing a different story on after months―years―of waiting for this long-feared attack, Ukraine was fed up and ready to fight back. The Russians bogged down hard in combat east and west of Kyiv. They got exhausted. They screwed up logistics. They sustained heavy losses. Their unbelievably overconfident blitz was failing.
The Battle of Kyiv is Illia Ponomarenko’s heart-wrenching memoir of the war on his homeland, offering a fiery diatribe against Russian hypocrisy and a moving look at what is being lost. But it’s also a story of pride and even elation as Ukrainian forces come together, find their mojo, and oust the invaders from Kyiv. The most powerful and personal chronicle of the war to date, The Battle of Kyiv is an exceptional literary achievement, chronicling a stunning feat of resistance and a courageous people set on a miraculous victory.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2024
63 people are currently reading
2896 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
May 12, 2025
I just hope that someday Russia will experience exactly what it’s doing to Ukraine. Exactly the same. No less. Just the same - let them fear for the lives of their loved ones and the bombing of their homes. And I will not pity it at all.
And this quote sums it all up very succinctly:
Ponomarenko gives a personal account of the failed Russian efforts to take over Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, during February-March of 2022 when Russian plans for a blitzkrieg ran into Ukrainians refusing to roll over and surrender. Over three years later this army of genocidal maniac at the head of Russia is still killing people on Ukrainian soil while Russian propaganda attempts to rewrite history in front of everyone’s eyes (and with some idiots even succeeding in blaming the victim for the perpetrator’s horrendous crimes) — “one delusional old man’s monstrous act of megalomania” that continuous to take lives and destroy a country.
Ponomarenko goes into the events that preceded the invasion, the events that may be unfamiliar to those who have not been closely following geopolitical situation in that corner of Europe as well as all the events early in the invasion. His account is personal, often sparing no words about things he feels strongly about. He’s extremely critical of the approach aimed at appeasing Russia, since it’s clear that appeasing a dictator does not work, instead emboldening him. The lives of people under the threat of war and then the invasion — it’s not something that should be accepted and yet was allowed to happen as the world was trying to appease the maniac.
His book is very conversational and not tightly edited, and I sure one can find plenty to criticize — and yet I read it over a few hours in one setting with my heart aching, remembering the oppressive feeling of inevitability in the few days before the invasion while many Ukrainians, used to the constant threat from across the border, were hoping against hope that the threats would be empty, and calling my mother in what were the early morning hours for her to let her know that she’s now living through the war. And it’s painfully real and all I can hope for is that the world will bring some justice eventually and that someday Russia will suffer through the same pain it keeps inflicting on Ukraine.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
And this quote sums it all up very succinctly:
Ponomarenko gives a personal account of the failed Russian efforts to take over Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, during February-March of 2022 when Russian plans for a blitzkrieg ran into Ukrainians refusing to roll over and surrender. Over three years later this army of genocidal maniac at the head of Russia is still killing people on Ukrainian soil while Russian propaganda attempts to rewrite history in front of everyone’s eyes (and with some idiots even succeeding in blaming the victim for the perpetrator’s horrendous crimes) — “one delusional old man’s monstrous act of megalomania” that continuous to take lives and destroy a country.
Ponomarenko goes into the events that preceded the invasion, the events that may be unfamiliar to those who have not been closely following geopolitical situation in that corner of Europe as well as all the events early in the invasion. His account is personal, often sparing no words about things he feels strongly about. He’s extremely critical of the approach aimed at appeasing Russia, since it’s clear that appeasing a dictator does not work, instead emboldening him. The lives of people under the threat of war and then the invasion — it’s not something that should be accepted and yet was allowed to happen as the world was trying to appease the maniac.
His book is very conversational and not tightly edited, and I sure one can find plenty to criticize — and yet I read it over a few hours in one setting with my heart aching, remembering the oppressive feeling of inevitability in the few days before the invasion while many Ukrainians, used to the constant threat from across the border, were hoping against hope that the threats would be empty, and calling my mother in what were the early morning hours for her to let her know that she’s now living through the war. And it’s painfully real and all I can hope for is that the world will bring some justice eventually and that someday Russia will suffer through the same pain it keeps inflicting on Ukraine.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
June 15, 2024
I had to take a bit of time to consider what I wanted to write about this book. It is the type of book I would want future generations to read when they learn in history class about today's war. Because this book is so much more than just another war story. It is a time capsule and a therapy session, written by the journalist that stayed and became the voice of a city under seige. Ponomarenko writes about his experiences during the battle for Kyiv with the same witt and sarcasm that has landed so many Ukrainian politicians in trouble, but here he uses it to say the things he cannot say otherwise. It is a deeply emotional and beautiful ode to this unbreakable city and its inhabitants.
February 3, 2024
This month it will be 2 years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Putin's regime. Two years. We look back, just as the author does in the early chapters, the pandemic is coming to an end, discussions about vaccines, and desiring life to return to normal. But to satisfy the mania of one man, life takes a different turn. Pure, sheer violence against civilians, a madman's effort to seize the capital, Kyiv. Plans for the future are abandoned for the needs of the moment - getting loved ones to safety. Though the book starts to end after the successful defense of Kyiv, the war remains, the question of why remains, the overwhelming sense of a tragic and needless loss of life (not only among soldiers but the brutal violence inflicted on civilians) remains. But Kyiv remains this wonderful, beautiful city. Agreeing with the author, this city waits for and welcomes you. Looking forward to having this book in the bookstore - and hopefully, one day, the author.
June 20, 2024
The war in Ukraine was unavoidable for anyone paying attention back in 2022. But the snippets that made it on national and local news were just that snippets, not the broader picture. Illia Ponomarenko, a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, offers the reader a much fuller and richer experience of what was happening in Ukraine and especially Kyiv during the first months of the Russian invasion.
Illia Ponomarenko opens the book with being embedded with the 72nd Mechanized Brigade on a patrol outside Kyiv in March 2022. His remembrance of earlier times spent with this unit in the Donbas area duing 2017 and other years sets the context for the most recent Russian invasion. Ponomarenko then takes you back to December 2021 and sets the stage letting you in on how life in Kyiv was before the war and what people were ding and thinking. He guides the reader through the time before the invasion and then the opening days in February and March when all was confusion and chaos. Ponomarenko, his mother, and his roommate fled to western Ukraine and stayed with Illia;s girlfriend's parents. But after a couple of days, Ponomarenko and his roommate Ivan return to Kyiv. Ponomarenko continues reporting for the Kyiv Independent media service visiting the front-lines when possible, but also providing background information and home-front stories as well. He brings the book to a close in May 2022 after Kyiv has been saved.
In I Will Show You How It Was, Illia Ponomarenko provides a first-person account of the opening days of the most recent Russian invasion of Ukraine. This title will be of interest to anyone interested in Ukraine, recent European events, or life in a war zone. A story that everyone should read!
Thanks Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the chance to read this title
Illia Ponomarenko opens the book with being embedded with the 72nd Mechanized Brigade on a patrol outside Kyiv in March 2022. His remembrance of earlier times spent with this unit in the Donbas area duing 2017 and other years sets the context for the most recent Russian invasion. Ponomarenko then takes you back to December 2021 and sets the stage letting you in on how life in Kyiv was before the war and what people were ding and thinking. He guides the reader through the time before the invasion and then the opening days in February and March when all was confusion and chaos. Ponomarenko, his mother, and his roommate fled to western Ukraine and stayed with Illia;s girlfriend's parents. But after a couple of days, Ponomarenko and his roommate Ivan return to Kyiv. Ponomarenko continues reporting for the Kyiv Independent media service visiting the front-lines when possible, but also providing background information and home-front stories as well. He brings the book to a close in May 2022 after Kyiv has been saved.
In I Will Show You How It Was, Illia Ponomarenko provides a first-person account of the opening days of the most recent Russian invasion of Ukraine. This title will be of interest to anyone interested in Ukraine, recent European events, or life in a war zone. A story that everyone should read!
Thanks Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the chance to read this title
February 1, 2024
I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv by Illia Ponomarenko is a personal account of the events leading up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the early weeks of the war. Mr. Ponomarenko is a journalist working for The Kyiv Independent. His writing style is informal and accessible which adds to the authenticity of his descriptions. Throughout the memoir, excerpts from key political speeches and other sources are cited. This brings an important element of credibility to Mr. Ponomarenko's accounts of the circumstances. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is eager to gain a firsthand perspective of the war in Ukraine. In addition to being a useful and readable account of the war for those wanting to learn more about the present situation, this book will be a very valuable source of primary literature to those studying this war in the future. My only feedback is that book is written for someone who has a basic understanding of Ukrainian geography and history. This book may be difficult to follow by individuals with no background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2024, anyone who is following the news will have that required background.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2024
To begin, this is an author who LOVES his city, and it shows through his descriptions of Kyiv, both prior to and during the war. Makes me want to visit, once the brave people of a free and democratic Ukraine have defeated Putin’s thugs.
June 6, 2024
Yet another book I wish the putin-fluffers in Congress and elsewhere would read, except that they all have zero capacity for learning and growing as people.
This is a really excellent and up-close look at not just the Battle For Kyiv at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, but also the lead-up to the war and the city of Kyiv itself. Ponomarenko's love for his city is palpable and poignant. It makes the reader feel like they love it too, even if they've never been there, as I have not. And being a journalist means that he has an ear toward all sectors of the country and the events, from government to the front lines to everyday civilians. Seeing all of this directly through his eyes was very compelling, most especially in the weeks before the full-scale war began, as Ukrainians were having to live every day as though it might begin that night. For most of us, it is impossibly to fully understand what that experience would feel like, but I think this account gets us as close as we can to understanding.
I also appreciate what a light this book shines on the might and resilience of the Ukrainian military, a force which so many around the world doubted preemptively and who proved them all wrong ten-fold. And I'll tell you what, if the US and other Western nations had fully backed Ukraine from the very start, and given them the weapons and supplies they needed without all this handwringing and hesitation, this war could likely be over by now with Ukraine victorious. Sadly, I don't think any Western leaders will learn the key lesson from this.
I did have a few minor quibbles, none of which touch on the actual reporting itself or the rightness of Ukraine in the war. The book is definitely written in a conversational tone, which for the most part works well but at times almost felt a bit too irreverent and sometimes a little forced. (There was no need to use the word "dude" so often.) It's also a bit scattered in its structure, where we sort of hop back and forth in the timeline a little, especially in the first third or so, and it can be a bit confusing. I don't think it needed to be in a completely linear format, but I think it could have been smoothed out just a little.
And then...look, I would never ever tell Ukrainians how they should feel about their own country or military or government, and I fully recognize that the adulation and hero-worship many in the West showed toward President Zelenskyy might have been a little overboard at times and probably annoyed Ukrainians a bit. I happen to admire Zelenskyy greatly and think he proved himself to be the leader the country needed, but I am also aware that his pre-2022 presidency had not been perfect, that he'd made some mistakes and bad moves, and that he did not always live up to the promises he'd made in his campaign and upon his election. There is nothing wrong with valid criticism of a president even in wartime. But it really felt like Ponomarenko just despised him, and did not hold himself back from exhibiting that. I have a few acquaintances in Ukraine who have expressed that they got irritated with Western media constantly referencing Zelenskyy's past as a comedic actor, as though that's all there was to him. But Ponomarenko repeatedly referred to him in the first half or so as "the actor" or "the comedian" or even a clown one time. He sneered at things like a Christmas display being up for too long past the holiday and cast every decision made as wrong, often without any explanation. Now, once the full-scale war began and Zelenskyy declared he was staying in Kyiv, he was staying with his people, and he was ready to do whatever needed to get Ukraine the help they required, the tone does shift, and Ponomarenko does acknowledge the leadership and bravery, although still while calling him a comedian-turned-president. Again, it is 100% his right to feel about the man however he does, and he certainly has far more information and understanding and experience of him than anyone outside the country. But it just felt like a little too much personal animus seeping through, and it didn't really serve the narrative in any way I could see.
But again, those are all minor issues, and overall this was a gripping and forthright account of a time of paramount importance, not just to Ukraine but the whole Western world. I am generally not someone who celebrates the death of even the worst people, and I know that whatever monster comes after him will probably be as bad if not worse, but I admit...the day putin shuffles off this mortal coil will be a good one.
Слава Україні! Героям слава!
This is a really excellent and up-close look at not just the Battle For Kyiv at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, but also the lead-up to the war and the city of Kyiv itself. Ponomarenko's love for his city is palpable and poignant. It makes the reader feel like they love it too, even if they've never been there, as I have not. And being a journalist means that he has an ear toward all sectors of the country and the events, from government to the front lines to everyday civilians. Seeing all of this directly through his eyes was very compelling, most especially in the weeks before the full-scale war began, as Ukrainians were having to live every day as though it might begin that night. For most of us, it is impossibly to fully understand what that experience would feel like, but I think this account gets us as close as we can to understanding.
I also appreciate what a light this book shines on the might and resilience of the Ukrainian military, a force which so many around the world doubted preemptively and who proved them all wrong ten-fold. And I'll tell you what, if the US and other Western nations had fully backed Ukraine from the very start, and given them the weapons and supplies they needed without all this handwringing and hesitation, this war could likely be over by now with Ukraine victorious. Sadly, I don't think any Western leaders will learn the key lesson from this.
I did have a few minor quibbles, none of which touch on the actual reporting itself or the rightness of Ukraine in the war. The book is definitely written in a conversational tone, which for the most part works well but at times almost felt a bit too irreverent and sometimes a little forced. (There was no need to use the word "dude" so often.) It's also a bit scattered in its structure, where we sort of hop back and forth in the timeline a little, especially in the first third or so, and it can be a bit confusing. I don't think it needed to be in a completely linear format, but I think it could have been smoothed out just a little.
And then...look, I would never ever tell Ukrainians how they should feel about their own country or military or government, and I fully recognize that the adulation and hero-worship many in the West showed toward President Zelenskyy might have been a little overboard at times and probably annoyed Ukrainians a bit. I happen to admire Zelenskyy greatly and think he proved himself to be the leader the country needed, but I am also aware that his pre-2022 presidency had not been perfect, that he'd made some mistakes and bad moves, and that he did not always live up to the promises he'd made in his campaign and upon his election. There is nothing wrong with valid criticism of a president even in wartime. But it really felt like Ponomarenko just despised him, and did not hold himself back from exhibiting that. I have a few acquaintances in Ukraine who have expressed that they got irritated with Western media constantly referencing Zelenskyy's past as a comedic actor, as though that's all there was to him. But Ponomarenko repeatedly referred to him in the first half or so as "the actor" or "the comedian" or even a clown one time. He sneered at things like a Christmas display being up for too long past the holiday and cast every decision made as wrong, often without any explanation. Now, once the full-scale war began and Zelenskyy declared he was staying in Kyiv, he was staying with his people, and he was ready to do whatever needed to get Ukraine the help they required, the tone does shift, and Ponomarenko does acknowledge the leadership and bravery, although still while calling him a comedian-turned-president. Again, it is 100% his right to feel about the man however he does, and he certainly has far more information and understanding and experience of him than anyone outside the country. But it just felt like a little too much personal animus seeping through, and it didn't really serve the narrative in any way I could see.
But again, those are all minor issues, and overall this was a gripping and forthright account of a time of paramount importance, not just to Ukraine but the whole Western world. I am generally not someone who celebrates the death of even the worst people, and I know that whatever monster comes after him will probably be as bad if not worse, but I admit...the day putin shuffles off this mortal coil will be a good one.
Слава Україні! Героям слава!
May 19, 2024
I’m so glad that Jake heard about this & told me to get it. I needed to learn about the war on Ukraine, and this firsthand from a young Ukrainian journalist is a raw & enlightening account of the months leading up to Russia’s despicable 2022 attack, and the first few months of the war.
May 25, 2024
Gut wrenching.
June 29, 2024
Informative and upbeat account of the lead up to the war and the Kyiv campaign. Vivid and immediate, not brilliantly translated or especially well written but worth reading for the firsthand sense of how it all felt at the time.
Leans a bit too much into the narrative of all Ukrainians working together against a common enemy (not much on the corruption, desertion and alternate views) but that is entirely forgivable when the war is still being fought and urgently needs to be won.
Would have liked more on drones…
Leans a bit too much into the narrative of all Ukrainians working together against a common enemy (not much on the corruption, desertion and alternate views) but that is entirely forgivable when the war is still being fought and urgently needs to be won.
Would have liked more on drones…
June 20, 2024
I follow Ilia on twitter, so I was really looking forward to the book. I don't think I learned a lot from it, to be honest, but the book is very focused on the first few months of the invasion, and when the war started I was on twitter and Telegram probably 7-8 hours per day reading the news in Russian and Ukrainian. (I didn't have a job at the time, so I was making daily updates to my Facebook of summaries of what was going on in the war.) I think someone who is less news-obsessed than I am will find the book very enlightening, however, and I think he does a good job of contextualizing the events of the war for people who are not familiar with Russian and Ukrainian cultures and life in Eastern Europe.
June 4, 2024
A love letter to Kyiv. It’s also an insightful look at the unbelievable time leading up to the attempted overtaking of the city, the apocalyptic battle, and the bittersweet aftermath.
May 19, 2024
Illia Ponomarenko’s, I Will Show You How It Was, is a poignant, personal, heart-breaking, at times funny (Illia’s first meeting of his girlfriend’s parents; his escapades with his roommate, Ivan), yet hopeful account of the early months before and through the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the assault on Ukraine’s beautiful capital city, Kyiv. Illia’s writing was so personal. I felt as though I was sitting with him in a coffee shop or bar, as he described what it was like to be living in Kyiv in those dark days—first, the feeling of disbelief that Russia would stage such an invasion, then the slow realization that something terrible was about to happen, then the horror of the massive attempted invasion. Told from the perspective of this young war-correspondent, the writing gave me great hope that no matter what, Ukraine will prevail over Russia. This will happen because young, ordinary Ukrainians like Illia (who I would actually say is an extraordinary young man) have tasted freedom. They want a future free of Russian influence. Illia’s message gave me hope that Putin and his Russia will never successfully impose their will on the nearly forty million Ukrainians who are fighting for a different future for their country.
This book should be read by all Americans—to shake us from our complacency that our freedom is forever insured. I highly recommend I Will Show You How It Was.
This book should be read by all Americans—to shake us from our complacency that our freedom is forever insured. I highly recommend I Will Show You How It Was.
July 7, 2024
No words I write would do justice to this historical point of view.
I have followed Ponomarenko on twitter since the beginning of the special operation. I subscribe to The Kyiv Independent. I'm on Twitter daily to check on Ukraine.
Nevertheless, this book provides a different, personal window into the reality on the ground, as citizens gambled with their lives, trying to figure out to stay or go, to fight or flee. How to obtain supplies. Who to help and how.
Bravo, Illia, bravissimo. Slava Ukraïni
PS Some day, when I visit, I will be tracking you down for an autograph. And to buy you a beer.
I have followed Ponomarenko on twitter since the beginning of the special operation. I subscribe to The Kyiv Independent. I'm on Twitter daily to check on Ukraine.
Nevertheless, this book provides a different, personal window into the reality on the ground, as citizens gambled with their lives, trying to figure out to stay or go, to fight or flee. How to obtain supplies. Who to help and how.
Bravo, Illia, bravissimo. Slava Ukraïni
PS Some day, when I visit, I will be tracking you down for an autograph. And to buy you a beer.
February 2, 2025
A colloquial and profane ("irreverent" according to the back cover) book, I Will Show You How It Was offers an intimate account of the period leading up to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2024 and the subsequent Battle of Kyiv. Ponomarenko, a journalist writing for the Kyiv Independent, writes with the passion and anger of someone who experienced these events firsthand and a good and accessible introduction for someone looking to understand the transformation of Ukrainian society in the past 10 years.
May 8, 2024
Personal first hand account of the buildup to Russia's full scale invasion in February 2022 from a distinguished Ukrainian war correspondent. Last 1/3 of the book cover how the author experienced Putin's first and most major defeat, Battle of Kyiv.
October 7, 2025
I've been following the Russian invasion of Ukraine since it began in 2014, and especially after the full-scale invasion in 2022. I also closely followed Illia Ponomarenko on Twitter before Musk ruined it. I was familiar with many events in the books as I paid close attention to the battles around Kyiv that saved the city. Names like Hostomel, Bucha, and Irpin are forever ingrained in my memory. Illia's excellent book fills in many of the gaps in my historical memory and provides a riveting account of what it was like to live through those terrible days.
August 6, 2024
(The English review is placed beneath the Russian one)
Засыпая не слушай грохот, дитя
И не бойся толпы, они просто играют
Взрослые дяди, они это шутя
Они бросят оружие, а пока притворяются
Укрывайся и досчитай до ста
Обнимая всех плюшевых мишек
Солнцу с утра вместе с нами вставать
Над всеми теми, кто друг друга не слышит
Книга является аналогом другой подобной книги - Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence. Обе книги были написаны этническими украинцами, работающими на западные СМИ, и обе являются, по существу, военной пропагандой. Возможно, если бы военный конфликт между Россией и Украиной закончился бы полным или хотя бы частичным разгромом РФ в 2022 году, эта книга смотрелась бы логично, но сегодня, когда только ленивый не говорит о переговорах, такая книга выглядит... странно. Впрочем, сегодня многие украинцы считают что они должны сделать всё что только возможно для своей страны чтобы обеспечить долгожданную победу, независимо от того что подразумевается под словом «победа». Таким образом, выпуск подобной литературы, адресованный англоязычной публики, вполне логичен. Трудно сказать насколько это эффективно, но если это делает их враг, то вопросов на счёт актуальности не возникает. Тем не менее, лично я не люблю пропаганду с какой бы стороны она не выходила. Я не утверждаю, что книга совсем плоха и возможно для кого-то она подействует хотя бы в качестве «лекарства».
Книга мне так же напомнила сценарий типичного голливудского боевика. В данном случаи у нас журналист, который приезжает к себе на родину за несколько дней до военного вторжения. И дальше мы видим, глазами этого самого журналиста (автора книги), что происходило в столице Украины – Киеве. Но тут есть две проблемы. Первая проблема заключается в явной пропаганде, неискренности пережитых эмоций и подкорректированной реальности. Если такие книги как War Diary by Yevgenia Belorusets, Escape from Mariupol by Anne K. Howard, Everyday War by Greta Lynn Uehling выглядят и воспринимаются как реальные сводки с фронта, то эта книга воспринимается как американский боевик, где хорошие парни побеждают плохих и наступает «happy end». Конечно, в нашем случаи, т.е. в реальной ситуации никакого «happy end» не может быть в принципе, ибо жертв и разрушений слишком много. И вот это один из главных недостатков книги. Ты читаешь и воспринимаешь всё вышеописанное как некую игру или фильм, где люди гибнут не потому, что попали под артобстрел, а потому что такую роль им прописал режиссёр. Возникает ощущение нереальности происходящего, следствием чего является фальшь всей книги. Я просто не верю в то, что автор испытывал именно те эмоции, что он описал в книге. А главное, я не верю, что именно так и обстояло дело в тот период времени в Киеве. Поэтому и возник у меня вопрос, а зачем читать описание военных дней в Киеве, если ты не веришь в истинность написанного? Опять же, три вышеназванных книги, описывают реальность более реалистично. Война не является пикником, как это, пусть и не осознанно (возможно), показывает автор. Тут в первую очередь возникает шок, гнев и желание убраться подальше (у большинства людей), а не взять винтовку и пойти чуть ли не с голыми руками убивать врагов. Но именно такую реальность пытается показать автор. То, что мы видим в СМИ, не является реальностью, а лишь проекция, в которой заинтересованы разные политические группы. Вот в России политические группы заинтересованы показать такую реальность, в которой вся страна как один за Путина, но мы же понимаем, что если бы так было действительно, Россия выглядела бы совсем иначе. Примерно то же самое справедливо и в отношении Украины. Конечно, полностью подделать реальность невозможно, но возможность смешать правду и вымысел, что отлично научилась делать кремлёвская пропаганда, всегда есть.
Второй момент, почему мне не понравилась книга, состоит в том, что автору просто нечего сказать. Половина книги, это пересказ новостных событий по типу, что сказал Песков, Путин, западные лидеры и чиновники или куда российские войска прорвались, а откуда их выгнала украинская армия и так далее. Всё это по сто раз уже писалось и говорилось. Поэтому я в этом вижу попытку искусственно увеличить объём книг��, так как самому автору, не так и много что есть сказать. И вот это печально, ибо ожидаешь искренности, а встречаешь фальшь и переписывание новостных заголовков. В какой-то момент я понял, что в этой книге нет ничего стоящего и интересного. К тому же автор как огня боится критиковать украинское правительство. Первый вопрос, который возникает после того как автор пишет о прорыве российской армии обороны Украины то тут то там, это «почему не подумали об обороне, почему не заминировали территорию и почему государство не обеспокоилось эвакуацией собстве��ных граждан?». Автор подобные вопросы, в стиле россиян, боится поднимать в своей книге, как будто он на бессознательном уровне принял российскую доктрину – «лгать здесь – значит охранять престол, говорить правду – значит потрясать основы».
The book is analogous to another similar book, Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence. Both books were written by ethnic Ukrainians working for the Western media, and both are essentially war propaganda. Perhaps if the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine had ended with the complete or at least partial defeat of the Russian Federation in 2022, this book would make sense, but today, when only a lazy person is not talking about negotiations, such a book looks... strange. However, many Ukrainians today believe that they must do everything possible for their country to secure the long-awaited victory, regardless of what is meant by the word "victory". Thus, the production of such literature aimed at the English-speaking public is quite logical. It is hard to say how effective it is, but if their enemy is doing it, there is no question of relevance. Nevertheless, I don't like propaganda, no matter what side it comes from. I'm not saying that the book is bad at all, and maybe for some people, it will work at least as a "cure".
The book also reminded me of a typical Hollywood action movie. In this case, we have a journalist who arrives in his homeland a few days before the military invasion. And then we see, through the eyes of this journalist (the author of the book), what was happening in the capital of Ukraine - Kiev. But there are two problems here. The first problem is the propaganda, the insincerity of the emotions experienced, and the adjusted reality. If such books as War Diary by Yevgenia Belorusets, Escape from Mariupol by Anne K. Howard, and Everyday War by Greta Lynn Uehling look and are perceived as real reports from the front, then this book is perceived as American action movies where the good guys defeat the bad guys and there comes a "happy ending". Of course, in our case, i.e., in a real situation, there can be no "happy ending" in principle because there are too many victims and destruction. And this is one of the main drawbacks of the book. You read and perceive all of the above described as some kind of game or movie, where people die not because they got under artillery fire but because the director prescribed such a role for them. There is a feeling of unreality of what is happening, the consequence of which is the falsity of the whole book. I simply do not believe that the author felt exactly the emotions that he described in the book. And most importantly, I do not believe that this was the case at that time in Kiev. That is why I have a question: why read the description of the war days in Kiev, if you do not believe in the truth of what is written? Again, the above three books, describe reality more realistically. War is no picnic, as the author shows, albeit not consciously (perhaps). There is, first of all, shock, anger, and a desire to get away (in most people), not to take a rifle and go almost with bare hands to kill the enemy. But that is the reality the author is trying to show. What we see in the media is not reality, but only a projection in which different political groups are interested. In Russia, political groups are interested in showing a reality in which the whole country is in favor of Putin, but we realize that if this were really the case, Russia would look very different. Roughly the same is true for Ukraine. Of course, it is impossible to completely fake reality, but there is always the possibility of mixing truth and fiction, which the Kremlin propaganda has learned to do very well.
The second point why I didn't like the book is that the author simply has nothing to say. Half of the book is a retelling of news events like what Peskov, Putin, Western leaders, and officials said, where Russian troops broke through, where the Ukrainian army kicked them out, and so on. All of this has been written and said a hundred times already. So, I see this as an attempt to artificially increase the volume of the book since the author himself does not have much to say. And this is sad because you expect sincerity, but you meet falsity and rewriting of news headlines. At some point, I realized that there was nothing worthwhile and interesting in this book. Besides, the author is as afraid as fire to criticize the Ukrainian government. The first question that arises after the author writes about the Russian army breaking through Ukraine's defenses here and there is "Why didn't they think about defense, why didn't they mine the territory and why didn't the state worry about evacuating its own citizens?". The author is afraid to raise such questions, in the style of Russians, as if he has unconsciously accepted the Russian doctrine - "to lie here means to guard the throne, to tell the truth, means to shake the foundations".
Засыпая не слушай грохот, дитя
И не бойся толпы, они просто играют
Взрослые дяди, они это шутя
Они бросят оружие, а пока притворяются
Укрывайся и досчитай до ста
Обнимая всех плюшевых мишек
Солнцу с утра вместе с нами вставать
Над всеми теми, кто друг друга не слышит
Книга является аналогом другой подобной книги - Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence. Обе книги были написаны этническими украинцами, работающими на западные СМИ, и обе являются, по существу, военной пропагандой. Возможно, если бы военный конфликт между Россией и Украиной закончился бы полным или хотя бы частичным разгромом РФ в 2022 году, эта книга смотрелась бы логично, но сегодня, когда только ленивый не говорит о переговорах, такая книга выглядит... странно. Впрочем, сегодня многие украинцы считают что они должны сделать всё что только возможно для своей страны чтобы обеспечить долгожданную победу, независимо от того что подразумевается под словом «победа». Таким образом, выпуск подобной литературы, адресованный англоязычной публики, вполне логичен. Трудно сказать насколько это эффективно, но если это делает их враг, то вопросов на счёт актуальности не возникает. Тем не менее, лично я не люблю пропаганду с какой бы стороны она не выходила. Я не утверждаю, что книга совсем плоха и возможно для кого-то она подействует хотя бы в качестве «лекарства».
Книга мне так же напомнила сценарий типичного голливудского боевика. В данном случаи у нас журналист, который приезжает к себе на родину за несколько дней до военного вторжения. И дальше мы видим, глазами этого самого журналиста (автора книги), что происходило в столице Украины – Киеве. Но тут есть две проблемы. Первая проблема заключается в явной пропаганде, неискренности пережитых эмоций и подкорректированной реальности. Если такие книги как War Diary by Yevgenia Belorusets, Escape from Mariupol by Anne K. Howard, Everyday War by Greta Lynn Uehling выглядят и воспринимаются как реальные сводки с фронта, то эта книга воспринимается как американский боевик, где хорошие парни побеждают плохих и наступает «happy end». Конечно, в нашем случаи, т.е. в реальной ситуации никакого «happy end» не может быть в принципе, ибо жертв и разрушений слишком много. И вот это один из главных недостатков книги. Ты читаешь и воспринимаешь всё вышеописанное как некую игру или фильм, где люди гибнут не потому, что попали под артобстрел, а потому что такую роль им прописал режиссёр. Возникает ощущение нереальности происходящего, следствием чего является фальшь всей книги. Я просто не верю в то, что автор испытывал именно те эмоции, что он описал в книге. А главное, я не верю, что именно так и обстояло дело в тот период времени в Киеве. Поэтому и возник у меня вопрос, а зачем читать описание военных дней в Киеве, если ты не веришь в истинность написанного? Опять же, три вышеназванных книги, описывают реальность более реалистично. Война не является пикником, как это, пусть и не осознанно (возможно), показывает автор. Тут в первую очередь возникает шок, гнев и желание убраться подальше (у большинства людей), а не взять винтовку и пойти чуть ли не с голыми руками убивать врагов. Но именно такую реальность пытается показать автор. То, что мы видим в СМИ, не является реальностью, а лишь проекция, в которой заинтересованы разные политические группы. Вот в России политические группы заинтересованы показать такую реальность, в которой вся страна как один за Путина, но мы же понимаем, что если бы так было действительно, Россия выглядела бы совсем иначе. Примерно то же самое справедливо и в отношении Украины. Конечно, полностью подделать реальность невозможно, но возможность смешать правду и вымысел, что отлично научилась делать кремлёвская пропаганда, всегда есть.
Второй момент, почему мне не понравилась книга, состоит в том, что автору просто нечего сказать. Половина книги, это пересказ новостных событий по типу, что сказал Песков, Путин, западные лидеры и чиновники или куда российские войска прорвались, а откуда их выгнала украинская армия и так далее. Всё это по сто раз уже писалось и говорилось. Поэтому я в этом вижу попытку искусственно увеличить объём книг��, так как самому автору, не так и много что есть сказать. И вот это печально, ибо ожидаешь искренности, а встречаешь фальшь и переписывание новостных заголовков. В какой-то момент я понял, что в этой книге нет ничего стоящего и интересного. К тому же автор как огня боится критиковать украинское правительство. Первый вопрос, который возникает после того как автор пишет о прорыве российской армии обороны Украины то тут то там, это «почему не подумали об обороне, почему не заминировали территорию и почему государство не обеспокоилось эвакуацией собстве��ных граждан?». Автор подобные вопросы, в стиле россиян, боится поднимать в своей книге, как будто он на бессознательном уровне принял российскую доктрину – «лгать здесь – значит охранять престол, говорить правду – значит потрясать основы».
The book is analogous to another similar book, Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence. Both books were written by ethnic Ukrainians working for the Western media, and both are essentially war propaganda. Perhaps if the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine had ended with the complete or at least partial defeat of the Russian Federation in 2022, this book would make sense, but today, when only a lazy person is not talking about negotiations, such a book looks... strange. However, many Ukrainians today believe that they must do everything possible for their country to secure the long-awaited victory, regardless of what is meant by the word "victory". Thus, the production of such literature aimed at the English-speaking public is quite logical. It is hard to say how effective it is, but if their enemy is doing it, there is no question of relevance. Nevertheless, I don't like propaganda, no matter what side it comes from. I'm not saying that the book is bad at all, and maybe for some people, it will work at least as a "cure".
The book also reminded me of a typical Hollywood action movie. In this case, we have a journalist who arrives in his homeland a few days before the military invasion. And then we see, through the eyes of this journalist (the author of the book), what was happening in the capital of Ukraine - Kiev. But there are two problems here. The first problem is the propaganda, the insincerity of the emotions experienced, and the adjusted reality. If such books as War Diary by Yevgenia Belorusets, Escape from Mariupol by Anne K. Howard, and Everyday War by Greta Lynn Uehling look and are perceived as real reports from the front, then this book is perceived as American action movies where the good guys defeat the bad guys and there comes a "happy ending". Of course, in our case, i.e., in a real situation, there can be no "happy ending" in principle because there are too many victims and destruction. And this is one of the main drawbacks of the book. You read and perceive all of the above described as some kind of game or movie, where people die not because they got under artillery fire but because the director prescribed such a role for them. There is a feeling of unreality of what is happening, the consequence of which is the falsity of the whole book. I simply do not believe that the author felt exactly the emotions that he described in the book. And most importantly, I do not believe that this was the case at that time in Kiev. That is why I have a question: why read the description of the war days in Kiev, if you do not believe in the truth of what is written? Again, the above three books, describe reality more realistically. War is no picnic, as the author shows, albeit not consciously (perhaps). There is, first of all, shock, anger, and a desire to get away (in most people), not to take a rifle and go almost with bare hands to kill the enemy. But that is the reality the author is trying to show. What we see in the media is not reality, but only a projection in which different political groups are interested. In Russia, political groups are interested in showing a reality in which the whole country is in favor of Putin, but we realize that if this were really the case, Russia would look very different. Roughly the same is true for Ukraine. Of course, it is impossible to completely fake reality, but there is always the possibility of mixing truth and fiction, which the Kremlin propaganda has learned to do very well.
The second point why I didn't like the book is that the author simply has nothing to say. Half of the book is a retelling of news events like what Peskov, Putin, Western leaders, and officials said, where Russian troops broke through, where the Ukrainian army kicked them out, and so on. All of this has been written and said a hundred times already. So, I see this as an attempt to artificially increase the volume of the book since the author himself does not have much to say. And this is sad because you expect sincerity, but you meet falsity and rewriting of news headlines. At some point, I realized that there was nothing worthwhile and interesting in this book. Besides, the author is as afraid as fire to criticize the Ukrainian government. The first question that arises after the author writes about the Russian army breaking through Ukraine's defenses here and there is "Why didn't they think about defense, why didn't they mine the territory and why didn't the state worry about evacuating its own citizens?". The author is afraid to raise such questions, in the style of Russians, as if he has unconsciously accepted the Russian doctrine - "to lie here means to guard the throne, to tell the truth, means to shake the foundations".
abandoned
October 30, 2024Got about 25% through and decided to stop. I think that if you’ve been following the war very closely, this book might (could be wrong) not have much new to offer. The professional translator in me was also distracted by tiny but regular non-native-speaker-isms. There is no translator credit so I presume he wrote it himself in English. I wonder if it was decided to leave those things in for “authenticity”? Or because no one was going to notice that other than translators and editors?
July 9, 2024
If you wonder what it was like in Kyiv during the Russian invasion this is your book!
May 30, 2024
Views from the front.
US intelligence is spot on but of what value.
US intelligence is spot on but of what value.
March 11, 2025
“Such a rapid intrusion of mass death into the beautiful routine of everyone’s life is one of the most unspeakably horrifying things I’ve can witness.”
Illia Ponomarenko’s emotional account of the opening months of the war in Ukraine is one that will stick with me for a long time to come. The beauty of life in Kyiv is grimly juxtaposed with the horrors of Russian aggression; the dreams of so many silenced by the mad whims of Putin.
This book is a testament of the bravery of Ukrainians throughout and of their sacrifices for freedom, for their very right to survive. It is a must read. Slava Ukraini.
Illia Ponomarenko’s emotional account of the opening months of the war in Ukraine is one that will stick with me for a long time to come. The beauty of life in Kyiv is grimly juxtaposed with the horrors of Russian aggression; the dreams of so many silenced by the mad whims of Putin.
This book is a testament of the bravery of Ukrainians throughout and of their sacrifices for freedom, for their very right to survive. It is a must read. Slava Ukraini.
December 19, 2024
This book provides a first-person accounting of Ukraine in the first few months of 2022, covering the war and its build-up. The author is a journalist, an early member of the Kyiv Independent, and he employs that writing skill in order to really nail the environment and emotional situation of the country during that time. It's quite easy to get immersed into the world and feel emotionally connected to him and his colleagues. I liked the book.
November 15, 2024
Gah, I wanted to stick with this book, but it is so poorly written and edited that it's almost impossible to follow. The topic is important, and I'd like to know about the author's experience...but I think I'll do better just asking Ukrainian friends 🤷🏼♂️
November 25, 2024
XXXXX
FRONT-LINE WAR REPORTING AT ITS BEST
XXXXX
"My endless gratitude goes out to the men and women of Ukraine's Defense Forces--heroic and self-sacrificing--who managed to alter the course of history and thanks to whom we [the people of Ukraine] are alive and able to see the way out through the dark...
I'll do my best to show how it was from inside the proud, ancient city of Kyiv [during Russia's invasion of Ukraine]."
The above quote (in italics) comes from this gut-wrenching memoir by Illia Ponomarenko. He is a Ukrainian journalist who has covered the war on eastern Ukraine since it began, as well as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ponomarenko was selected to work as "USA Today's" guest reporter at the U.S. Department of Defense.
This book covers a great deal of time describing all the events that led up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, then covers the time when the conflict initially began on February 24, 2022 to all of March 2022.
It vividly gives first-hand accounts of the Kremlin's World War Two-level military offensive against Ukraine. As well it describes how this invasion is full of war crimes, barbarities, and lacks an obvious rationale.
Most importantly, this book shows how Ukraine successfully defeated the Kremlin's initial, most dangerous plan of a quick, "shock-and-awe" campaign.
Ponomarenko effectively gets across his love of Kiev (Ukraine's capital) and his dislike (to put it mildly) of Putin.
One of my favorite dislike moments occurs when Ponomarenko turns 30 during this time. He says,
"Vladimir V. Putin of Moscow is more than welcome to give me the greatest birthday present ever by shooting himself in the f**king throat."
To get an idea of the devastation of this war, be sure not to miss the last two sections of this book's final chapter. Be forewarned!! What is described is not for the faint of heart!
Finally, I will admit that I did get lost in some parts of this book. This was because there is no index to give me quick access to information, acronyms, etc. that I forgot. This could have been easily solved by having a list of key acronyms and abbreviations with their meanings as well as a list of people's names with their job titles.
In conclusion, this is a powerfully personal chronicle of the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine!!
XXXXX
(2024; map of Ukraine; map of Kiev; 18 untitled chapters; epilogue; main narrative 270 pages; acknowledgments; about the author)
XXXXX
FRONT-LINE WAR REPORTING AT ITS BEST
XXXXX
"My endless gratitude goes out to the men and women of Ukraine's Defense Forces--heroic and self-sacrificing--who managed to alter the course of history and thanks to whom we [the people of Ukraine] are alive and able to see the way out through the dark...
I'll do my best to show how it was from inside the proud, ancient city of Kyiv [during Russia's invasion of Ukraine]."
The above quote (in italics) comes from this gut-wrenching memoir by Illia Ponomarenko. He is a Ukrainian journalist who has covered the war on eastern Ukraine since it began, as well as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ponomarenko was selected to work as "USA Today's" guest reporter at the U.S. Department of Defense.
This book covers a great deal of time describing all the events that led up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, then covers the time when the conflict initially began on February 24, 2022 to all of March 2022.
It vividly gives first-hand accounts of the Kremlin's World War Two-level military offensive against Ukraine. As well it describes how this invasion is full of war crimes, barbarities, and lacks an obvious rationale.
Most importantly, this book shows how Ukraine successfully defeated the Kremlin's initial, most dangerous plan of a quick, "shock-and-awe" campaign.
Ponomarenko effectively gets across his love of Kiev (Ukraine's capital) and his dislike (to put it mildly) of Putin.
One of my favorite dislike moments occurs when Ponomarenko turns 30 during this time. He says,
"Vladimir V. Putin of Moscow is more than welcome to give me the greatest birthday present ever by shooting himself in the f**king throat."
To get an idea of the devastation of this war, be sure not to miss the last two sections of this book's final chapter. Be forewarned!! What is described is not for the faint of heart!
Finally, I will admit that I did get lost in some parts of this book. This was because there is no index to give me quick access to information, acronyms, etc. that I forgot. This could have been easily solved by having a list of key acronyms and abbreviations with their meanings as well as a list of people's names with their job titles.
In conclusion, this is a powerfully personal chronicle of the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine!!
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(2024; map of Ukraine; map of Kiev; 18 untitled chapters; epilogue; main narrative 270 pages; acknowledgments; about the author)
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March 15, 2025
It's 15th March 2025, 3 years after putins 'special military operation'. More than 200,000 Russian soldiers, 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers and thousands of civilians have been killed. Russia has strengthened NATO with the additions of Sweden and Finland, has brought the EU into a state of unfamiliar solidarity, ruined it's own economy and weakened respect for its leadership. In military terms Russia has displayed it's weakness, and has gained very little territory. It is in fact a 'big loser' and if putin was democratically elected and responsible, he would have been voted out years ago.
We now face the prospect of a ceasefire, which putin is doing everything to stall through Russia's normal deceptions and prevarication.
This book illustrates the wrong headedness of putin and his small circle, and history will show that it was an extremely costly mistake, for everyone, Russia, Ukraine, Europe and the rest of the world - for nothing!!
We can only hope for a fair and everlasting peace, but that is not at all certain when dealing with a rabid fox!
Importantly we could hope that the envoys and negotiators, not least Trump, Vance, Witkopf and Rubio, make themselves familiar with the truth in relation to the history of the sovereign country of Ukraine, the lies and deceptions of putin in the run up to the war, and the atrocities committed since it started.
The book is not written by an historian, but it is written by a courageous, patriotic young Ukrainian reporter.
Having followed the war since it started , I didn't learn much new, but to get the perspective from Pomomarenko, written 'from the heart' was worth the recap.
I only wish that there was a happy ending for the Ukrainian people, but that is still far from certain, and never will be as long as Russia is run by true 'dictators', who can ignore the will of ordinary Russians!
We now face the prospect of a ceasefire, which putin is doing everything to stall through Russia's normal deceptions and prevarication.
This book illustrates the wrong headedness of putin and his small circle, and history will show that it was an extremely costly mistake, for everyone, Russia, Ukraine, Europe and the rest of the world - for nothing!!
We can only hope for a fair and everlasting peace, but that is not at all certain when dealing with a rabid fox!
Importantly we could hope that the envoys and negotiators, not least Trump, Vance, Witkopf and Rubio, make themselves familiar with the truth in relation to the history of the sovereign country of Ukraine, the lies and deceptions of putin in the run up to the war, and the atrocities committed since it started.
The book is not written by an historian, but it is written by a courageous, patriotic young Ukrainian reporter.
Having followed the war since it started , I didn't learn much new, but to get the perspective from Pomomarenko, written 'from the heart' was worth the recap.
I only wish that there was a happy ending for the Ukrainian people, but that is still far from certain, and never will be as long as Russia is run by true 'dictators', who can ignore the will of ordinary Russians!
May 17, 2024
I started to follow Illia Ponomarenko, a Ukrainian journalist, on social media right after the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. Since then, he has been a reliable news source about the war. So, of course, I had to read his memoir about the battle of Kyiv, I Will Show You How It Was.
The memoir has two distinct parts. The first part is months and weeks leading up to the invasion, where Poomarenko describes people's mood, the government's actions, and preparations before the war. He also gives an important historical context to Ukrainian identity and Russian imperialism. The second part of the book describes the battle of Kyiv. How so many Ukrainian soldiers and ordinary people rose to defend their country when the Russian horde invaded. The Russian government and Western policymakers believed Kyiv would fall in less than a week. And yet, Ukrainian people proved everyone wrong. This part of the book was hard to read because it describes the brutality of the Russian army and the devastation that they brought to Ukrainian soil.
I highlighted many passages and quotes while reading the book. I found the writing compelling and engaging. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book is peppered with jokes and dark/gallows humor, which Ukrainians have become known for. I Will Show You How It Was is a must-read for people who want to learn more about Ukraine and the unjust and brutal war that Putin/Russia unleashed on the Ukrainian people. I highly recommend it.
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss
The memoir has two distinct parts. The first part is months and weeks leading up to the invasion, where Poomarenko describes people's mood, the government's actions, and preparations before the war. He also gives an important historical context to Ukrainian identity and Russian imperialism. The second part of the book describes the battle of Kyiv. How so many Ukrainian soldiers and ordinary people rose to defend their country when the Russian horde invaded. The Russian government and Western policymakers believed Kyiv would fall in less than a week. And yet, Ukrainian people proved everyone wrong. This part of the book was hard to read because it describes the brutality of the Russian army and the devastation that they brought to Ukrainian soil.
I highlighted many passages and quotes while reading the book. I found the writing compelling and engaging. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book is peppered with jokes and dark/gallows humor, which Ukrainians have become known for. I Will Show You How It Was is a must-read for people who want to learn more about Ukraine and the unjust and brutal war that Putin/Russia unleashed on the Ukrainian people. I highly recommend it.
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss
July 5, 2024
Close to 2.5 years ago, in February 2022, the Russian military invaded Ukraine. The author, a journalist, remained right there and never stopped reporting, no matter how harrowing it all became.
Ponomarenko divides his memoir into two sections with the days leading up to the invasion, and the second following the battle in Kyiv. My words fail to do justice to the courage and bravery of the people of Ukraine who defended their beloved country. This is difficult subject matter, of course, with it being a brutal, drawn out war, but the author instills hope as he shares the immense courage of the Ukrainian people.
The writing is highly readable and approachable. I appreciated the firsthand accounting by a Ukrainian with boots on the ground sharing the happenings through his gripping journalistic lens. My favorite thing of all was the ardor I could feel on behalf of the author for his country and homeland. It is present in every page and parallels that of the people whose hearts he shared with us.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Ponomarenko divides his memoir into two sections with the days leading up to the invasion, and the second following the battle in Kyiv. My words fail to do justice to the courage and bravery of the people of Ukraine who defended their beloved country. This is difficult subject matter, of course, with it being a brutal, drawn out war, but the author instills hope as he shares the immense courage of the Ukrainian people.
The writing is highly readable and approachable. I appreciated the firsthand accounting by a Ukrainian with boots on the ground sharing the happenings through his gripping journalistic lens. My favorite thing of all was the ardor I could feel on behalf of the author for his country and homeland. It is present in every page and parallels that of the people whose hearts he shared with us.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 6, 2024
Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began, I have been constantly following Illia Ponomarenko's Twitter feed. This young journalist has provided me not only with the most accurate information, but also with an emotion-packed commentary on what is happening on the ground. I admire not only his courage and fortitude, but also his way with words. And now I have a boatload of it.
It is a strange experience to read a book about a war that is still unfolding and its fate still to be determined. But that makes it all the more important to pay attention. Ponomarenko gives us first-hand observations from the front lines, but also paints a broader geopolitical picture. I hope this book will become an instant classic.
Thanks to the publisher, Bloomsbury USA, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
It is a strange experience to read a book about a war that is still unfolding and its fate still to be determined. But that makes it all the more important to pay attention. Ponomarenko gives us first-hand observations from the front lines, but also paints a broader geopolitical picture. I hope this book will become an instant classic.
Thanks to the publisher, Bloomsbury USA, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
October 28, 2025
Illia Ponomarenko’s I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv is a fearless, unflinching chronicle of courage, defiance, and the human spirit under siege. Written with the urgency of a reporter and the heart of a patriot, Ponomarenko takes readers directly into the chaos of Kyiv’s front lines, transforming breaking news into searing, intimate storytelling. His account captures not just the brutality of war, but the unbreakable will of a people determined to defend their homeland and dignity. By blending journalistic precision with raw emotional honesty, I Will Show You How It Was becomes far more than a memoir it’s a historical testament to resilience, truth, and the power of witnessing.
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