Renowned writer and musician Serhiy Zhadan has been honored with the Austrian State Prize for European Literature 2025. This award is presented by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media, and Sports of Austria. This marks the first time a Ukrainian author has received this accolade.

"Zhadan skillfully conveys the terrors of war and the invisible fears, restoring the voice and identity of the Ukrainian people in the face of aggression. His work articulates what everyday language cannot express. It is literature that bears witness and offers hope in the toughest times," emphasized Austrian Minister of Arts and Culture Andreas Babler.

The prize has been awarded since 1965 for a complete literary work by a European author that has gained significant international recognition. The laureate also receives a monetary reward of 25,000 euros.

Serhiy Zhadan studied German literature and holds a doctoral degree in Ukrainian futurism. Since 1991, he has been a prominent figure in the youth scene of Kharkiv.

He made his literary debut at the age of 17 and has published twelve poetry collections and seven prose works. He received an award for his book "The Invention of Jazz in Donbas," known in Ukraine as "Voroshilovgrad" in 2014.

In 2022, Zhadan received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. Last year, he was awarded the title of honorary professor of philosophy at the Ukrainian Free University in Munich.

In early June 2024, Serhiy Zhadan officially confirmed that he joined the National Guard. In addition to serving, he continues his volunteer activities, raising funds for military equipment and performing at charity concerts.