Zhadan’s writing masterfully reflects the fabric of Ukrainian society as well as everyday existence, difficulties, disillusionment and problems of ordinary Ukrainian people mainly from working-class background including soldiers, students, middle-aged business owners, farmers, immigrants, minorities. Zhadan’s empathy for his fellow countrymen is profound – and he shows a deep understanding towards people’s attitudes which are very different to his own, without compromising his own moral compass. The history and its impact on the lives of the ordinary people, the repetition of past mistakes is also addressed in a number of poems appearing in this collection. Zhadan’s poems can be treated as one of many vehicles to understand the current events and war in Ukraine. The issues portrayed in his writing are those of common shared humanity and universality.