Ukrainian poet Yuliya Musakovska has won the Asian Prize for Poetry 2025. She received the award for her poem Natural Disaster from the book Stones and Nails, translated by Olena Jennings. “In a world where poetry gives voice to our deepest experiences and resilience, Yuliya’s work has deeply moved us. Her poem, which conveys the complexity of our times with exceptional artistic skill and emotional depth, made a strong impression on our jury,” the jury members commented.
The author herself commented on her victory as follows: “I am grateful to the jury for such a high honour. The most important thing for me is that this text about ecocide in the Kherson Region will have the opportunity to touch readers in other parts of the world, convey the truth, awaken indifference, and unite people around universal human values, as well as open new doors and routes for Ukrainian culture at this most urgent time.”
The Asian Prize for Poetry is an international literary award that aims to amplify diverse poetic voices and promote international literary dialogue. It is part of the Asian Prizes programme, which has existed since 2022 and brings together several literary awards in the categories of fiction, non-fiction, short stories, and poetry.