The Flood

The FLOOD is Yevgeny Lear’s first English-language book in the genre of narrative nonfiction. It is a documentary-fictional journey to the Kherson steppes, based on the testimonies of people who survived the Russian occupation and the consequences of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station explosion.

The plot centers on a Watchmaker who arrives in Kherson and meets real witnesses to the flooding and occupation. He communicates with locals who managed to survive and later escape, volunteers who tried to save animals, employees of local museums and cafes, and soldiers who participated in the liquidation of the consequences of the Russian terrorist attack.

Through vivid narratives, The FLOOD builds an image of collective trauma and connects the horrors of the current Russian aggression with the tragedies of the past. Among the witnesses are older residents who were forced to move from their native places under the Soviets and now have to evacuate again. Despite the tragic background, the book captures the beauty of the Ukrainian south and emphasizes the importance of preserving its culture—and the memory of what the Russians destroyed, such as the unique murals by local artist Polina Rayko.

Combining real-life testimony with artistic narrative, Yevhen Lear tells the story of Ukrainian resilience and willingness to help each other, and also teaches us that we must document Russian war crimes and highlight Ukrainian voices that the world may not notice.