Richard Coombes

@richtranslator.bsky.social

523 Followers 298 Following

Ukrainian and Russian speaker, translator of verse, lyrics and literary prose. Out now: Disbelief, Dislocation, Someone Else’s Life, The Food Block. https://richardcoombeslanguageservices.com

The Field of Mars cemetery, Lviv, resting place of those killed by Russia in the current war.
Me with my friend Ihor at Lutsk Castle, Lutsk, Ukraine, April 2026
Theatre Square, Ternopil, Ukraine, with photographs of those killed Russia's war on Ukraine and a statue of famous actress Solomiia Krushelnitska.
The Russian woman famously crying in Crimea
The famous crying Russian lady in Crimea
A row of colourful Ukrainian socks on a washing line
A row of colourful Ukrainian socks on a washing line
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The cover of Yevhenia Kononenko's book "Той божевільний рік" shows a hand help up against a black background, palm facing the viewer, fingers not quite straight, with a hole through the centre of the palm from which blood is seeping.
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NAFO animal
Ukrainian flag flying in Kyiv
Two pictures of classic NAFO character indifferent to the news in the post
Cover of Вівці цілі, Yevhenia Kuznetsova’s latest novel. Predominantly dark blue - night time, a sheep apparently standing on a rooftop howling up at a full moon. I haven’t finished the book, and don’t know why this is the cover! If I’ve misunderstood it, I’ll post again.
Small white fridge in alcove, door ajar. Door can be seen to open in a manner that leaves the door, when open, partially blocking access to the fridge. Rehanging the door to open the other way, which is possible and for which I have instructions, would solve the problem.
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A page from вівці цілі, with just the title and author’s name and a tiny graphic which I regret I won’t understand until I’ve read the book.
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Picture of a pair of ducks at the main entrance’s to the local Tesco supermarket
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Please join us online Friday, April 4, at 2 pm ET / New York time (21:00 Kyiv time ) for an evening of poetry witnessing to and protesting against Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Bright picture of a lightweight sledge with runners and framework of thin, shaped metal that support a basket and end in a convenient twirled handle like a pram handle. In the basket are what appear to be wrapped Christmas presents, and the sledge is standing on a friendly tangle of green grasses and daisies, with two yellow butterflies and a ladybird.
cartoon pic of two drops of water, alike as if it were only one looking in a mirror. Turquoise drops with matching lighter turquoise highlights, black eyes with white pupils, reddish dots on cheeks, same reddish tongues.
Picture of Putin at a desk signing a document. The picture has a caption in Russian that reads “I hereby appoint Donald Trump as ambassador to the federal district of North America. V. Putin”.
Small chestnut horse with white blaze revealing large teeth and gums in a wide-mouthed giggle.
Cute brown & white cartoon dog with wide, appealing smile
Emoticon of fish holding an index finger to its lips
Cartoon of seriously glum-looking cat slumped face-down on the floor
Picture of crayfish, or possibly lobster, cheerfully holding up a plane ticket. Off to a warm place for the winter!
Drawing of three men carrying a mountain up a steep slope!
Picture of grimacing man throwing up his hands
Cartoon of a magnifying glass positioned over a fly, but what can be seen through the glass is an elephant
Picture of a pitchfork over rippling green water
Cartoon of two cats, one purple, the other pink, holding baseball bats and standing one each side of a green, flowery bush
Cartoon of a bear sneaking up to a sleeping boy and preparing toi step on his ear
The cover of Evgenia Kuznetsova's 'Ask Mia' (Спитайте Мієчку). Shows the house in which the story's heroines - all members of one family - assemble to play out their various interlocking dramas.
The cover of Olya Rucina's book 'Apricots flower at night' (Абрикоси зацвітають уночі)ю
Pic of translator NAFO fella wearing glasses and holding quill pen