# Victoria Amelina

> Ukrainian writer and activist

**Wikidata**: [Q21683191](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21683191)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Amelina)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/victoria-amelina

## Summary
Victoria Amelina (born Viktorija Jurijivna Amelina) was a Ukrainian novelist, poet, essayist, and activist. Educated at Lviv Polytechnic, she transitioned from a career in computer programming to become a celebrated literary figure and a member of PEN Ukraine. She died in 2023 as a result of a missile strike in Kramatorsk, and posthumously received the Orwell Prize for Political Writing for her work *Looking at Women Looking at War*.

## Biography
- **Born:** January 1, 1986 in Lviv, Ukraine
- **Died:** July 1, 2023 in Dnipro, Ukraine
- **Nationality:** Ukraine
- **Education:** Lviv Polytechnic
- **Known for:** Novels, essays, poetry, and human rights activism; documenting war crimes.
- **Employer(s):** PEN Ukraine (Member)
- **Field(s):** Literature, prose, essay, poetry, text, computer programming
- **Languages:** Ukrainian, English, Russian

## Contributions
Victoria Amelina contributed significantly to Ukrainian literature and the documentation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Her body of work spanned multiple forms, including novels, essays, poetry, and translation. Before establishing herself as a prominent writer, she worked professionally as a programmer and software engineer, a background that informed her structured approach to creative work.

She was an active member of PEN Ukraine, using her platform to advocate for freedom of expression. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Amelina focused on non-fiction and essay writing, documenting war crimes and the female experience in war. Her work *Looking at Women Looking at War* was recognized with the Orwell Prize for Political Writing in 2025. In addition to her literary output, she served as a lyricist and translator, bridging cultural gaps for Ukrainian literature in the English-speaking world.

## FAQs

### Q: How did Victoria Amelina die?
Victoria Amelina died on July 1, 2023, in Dnipro, Ukraine. Her cause of death was a missile strike on a restaurant in Kramatorsk, which was classified as a homicide. She was buried at Lychakiv Cemetery.

### Q: What awards did Victoria Amelina receive?
During her life, she received the Koronatsiya Slova, Litakcent Roku Award, and the Joseph Conrad Award (2021). Posthumously, she was awarded the Order of Merit (Ukraine, 3rd class), the Norwegian Authors Union Freedom of Expression Prize, a special Prix Voltaire, and the Orwell Prize for Political Writing (2025).

### Q: Was Victoria Amelina active in fields other than writing?
Yes. Before gaining prominence as a writer, Victoria Amelina worked in the technology sector as a programmer and software engineer. She studied at Lviv Polytechnic and is listed as having worked in the field of computer programming.

## Why They Matter
Victoria Amelina matters as a vital voice in contemporary Ukrainian literature and a tragic symbol of the cultural cost of the war in Ukraine. Her transition from a technical career to literary prominence highlighted the diverse talent within Ukraine's creative industries. As a member of PEN Ukraine, she played a role in the international literary community's engagement with Ukrainian issues.

Her legacy is defined by her courageous documentation of the war. By focusing on the female perspective during conflict, as seen in her award-winning work *Looking at Women Looking at War*, she expanded the narrative beyond military strategy to human experiences. The numerous posthumous awards she received, including the Order of Merit and the Prix Voltaire, underscore the international recognition of her contributions to freedom of speech and the arts. Her death in the Kramatorsk restaurant missile strike drew global condemnation, highlighting the specific dangers faced by civilians and intellectuals in the conflict zone.

## Notable For
- Winning the **Orwell Prize for Political Writing** (2025) posthumously for *Looking at Women Looking at War*.
- Receiving the **Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd Class** (2024).
- Being a member of **PEN Ukraine**.
- Receiving a **Special Award** from the IPA Prix Voltaire (2024).
- A career that spanned both **software engineering** and **literature**.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Victoria Amelina (née Shilova) was born on January 1, 1986, in Lviv, Ukraine. She pursued higher education at Lviv Polytechnic, a technical university in Lviv.

### Career and Occupations
Amelina held a diverse range of professional roles. She worked as a programmer and software engineer in the tech industry. Later, she established a prominent career in the arts and humanities. Her occupations included novelist, essayist, poet, translator, and lyricist. She was also classified as a prose writer. Her fields of work encompassed literature, prose, essays, poetry, text, and computer programming.

### Activism and Affiliations
She was a member of PEN Ukraine, an organization dedicated to protecting freedom of expression. Through her writing and activism, she engaged with international audiences regarding the situation in Ukraine.

### Awards and Recognition
Amelina received several accolades during her lifetime, including the Koronatsiya Slova, the Litakcent Roku Award, and the Joseph Conrad Award in 2021. Following her death, she was honored with the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class, in January 2024. In 2024, she also posthumously received the Norwegian Authors Union Freedom of Expression Prize and a special Prix Voltaire. In June 2025, she was posthumously awarded the Orwell Prize for Political Writing for her work *Looking at Women Looking at War*.

### Death
Victoria Amelina was killed on July 1, 2023, in Dnipro, Ukraine. The specific event causing her death was the 2023 Kramatorsk restaurant missile strike. The manner of death was recorded as a homicide. Her funeral and burial took place at Lychakiv Cemetery.

## References

1. Catalog of the German National Library
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. [Указ Президента України №16/2024. President of Ukraine. 2024](https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/162024-49517)
4. [Den norske Forfatterforenings ytringsfrihetspris 2023. Norwegian Authors' Union. 2024](https://www.forfatterforeningen.no/artikkel/den-norske-forfatterforenings-ytringsfrihetspris-2023/)
5. [2024 IPA Prix Voltaire awarded to Samir Mansour with Special Award for Victoria Amelina. International Publishers Association. 2024](https://internationalpublishers.org/2024-ipa-prix-voltaire-awarded-to-samir-mansour-with-special-award-for-victoria-amelina/)
6. [Orwell prize for political writing awarded to novelist killed in Ukraine war. TheGuardian.com. 2025](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jun/25/orwell-prize-for-political-writing-victoria-amelina-ukraine)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. [In memoriam](https://pen.org.ua/in-memoriam?op=filter&list=all)
9. [Writer Victoria Amelina dies following Kramatorsk strike. The Kyiv Independent. 2023](https://kyivindependent.com/pen-ukraine-writer-victoria-amelina-dies-following-kramatorsk-strike/)