Zabrisky in Donbas, 5 km from Bakhmut, during the filming of The Eastern Front. Full report here.

Author and journalist Zarina Zabrisky, well known on the San Francisco literary scene and for her political engagement since about 2010, has been based in Odesa, Ukraine since the early months of the Russian invasion. She will share photos and writings this evening, and will engage with the audience to answer their questions on the war and its human dimensions.

Originally from the USSR, her childhood was split between summers in Ukraine and winters in Russia. After relocating to San Francisco, she worked in various literary genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She is the author of five books, including the novel We, Monsters. As a journalist, Zabrisky has contributed to numerous publications, covering topics ranging from politics to culture and social issues.

Mykoliaiv, Ukraine. June 22, 2022. Photo by Zarina Zabrisky.

After the Russian invasion, she moved to Ukraine to report directly from the front lines. Based in Odesa, Zabrisky has traveled extensively across the war-torn country, contributing to Byline Times (UK), Euromaidan Press (UA) and other publications. Her literary work on the war has been featured in The Paris Review. Orion Magazine and Longreads.

In 2023, she co-produced and was featured in the documentary The Eastern Front: The Torture and Terror in Ukraine. This groundbreaking film, directed by Caolan Robertson and featuring legendary journalist John Sweeney and renowned war photographer Paul Conroy, exposes the harsh realities of ongoing Russian aggression. It uncovers the Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine through firsthand accounts and investigation.

Following a brief stay in San Francisco, Zabrisky will travel to Los Angeles for the film’s launch before returning to Ukraine.

The liberation of Kherson. 13 November, 2022. Photo by Zarina Zabrisky