Through Thorns to Freedom

This poignant novel unveils the harrowing fate of innocent victims from Western Ukraine, unjustly ensnared in the brutal clutches of the Stalinist regime. Despite the inhumane conditions and relentless repression, their unwavering spirit shone as a beacon, empowering them to resist and maintain their faith. Drawing upon the harrowing recollections of former prisoners, including the legendary Yuriy Shukhevych – son of the UPA Supreme Commander Roman Shukhevych ("Chuprynka"), Petro Frank – a young prisoner of «Dubravlag» and now the Honorary Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Society of Political Prisoners and Repressed, and Oleksandr Medvid – the last minor prisoner sentenced to 25 years of hard labor in the Gulag, the author guides the reader through the inferno of Soviet camps.

This book transcends mere literary creation, serving as a stark testament to the cruelty and inhumanity of the communist regime, which transformed the Gulag into a "prison of nations" where fear and lawlessness reigned supreme. «Through Thorns to Freedom» stands as a heartfelt tribute to the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian people, who, even in the face of unspeakable horrors, refused to relinquish their hope for freedom and the radiant light of human dignity.