On Their Own Skin is a book of reportages about ordinary Ukrainians’ experiences of war and the Russian occupation.
The book is based on witness testimonies of Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine. People have witnessed murders, tortures, abductions, and were kept in dark and wet cellars. They have often physically experienced the Russian aggression—literally on their own skin. At the same time, they have managed to preserve light and hope inside of them, as well as a humane attitude.
Svitlana Oslavska has been documenting Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine since 2022. This book is a result of hundreds of interviews, informal conversations, and the author’s observations during her trips to the South, North, and East of Ukraine—regions that have been occupied by Russia for a shorter or longer period of time.
The book also invites readers to participate in a conversation on how we can write and talk about this war. It raises questions about our language, ways of collecting stories, and modes of writing. Are they sufficient and appropriate for this task?