J.K. Rowling reaches out to Ukrainian marine who recited Harry Potter in Russian captivity
J.K. Rowling supports Ukrainian marine (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
British author J.K. Rowling has sent a personal letter and a signed book to Ukrainian Marine Oleksandr Ivanov. The defender spent 1,494 days in Russian captivity, where he kept up the spirits of his fellow prisoners by quietly retelling all seven Harry Potter books from memory, according to Ukraine WOW.
How Harry Potter helped him survive captivity
Oleksandr fell in love with Rowling's books as a child. He reread the series so many times that he memorized nearly all seven novels.
In 2015, he joined the Ukrainian Marines. At the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, he defended Mariupol as part of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade. After fighting at the Illich Steel Plant, he last contacted his family on April 12, 2022, before being taken prisoner by Russian forces.
Prisoners were forbidden from talking to one another, so Oleksandr began quietly retelling the Harry Potter stories to his fellow captives. He made it through all seven books, and when he finished the last one, the others asked him to start again from the beginning.
How J.K. Rowling learned his story
Oleksandr's story became widely known through TSN reports, in which his wife, Nelli Ivanova, spoke about her husband while waiting for his return.
Family friends and TSN correspondents Natalia Nahorna and Nelli Kovalska, together with Natalia's son Stepan, attended nearly every prisoner exchange hoping to see Oleksandr among those released. They brought symbolic Harry Potter items with them, including a magic wand, a toy owl, socks reading "Dobby is free," and a poster featuring the quote: "After all this time?" – "Always."
It was this story that caught the attention of Ukraine WOW, which decided to contact J.K. Rowling.
"We read about Oleksandr and his love for the Harry Potter universe and immediately knew we couldn't stay on the sidelines. We wanted the author of Harry Potter to learn how her stories helped a Ukrainian defender and his fellow prisoners endure Russian captivity," said Ukraine WOW co-founders Yaroslava Gres and Yuliia Solovei.
What the author wrote
J.K. Rowling responded by sending Oleksandr a signed copy of one of her books along with a personal letter.
"I heard that you are a great Harry Potter fan and that these stories became a source of comfort for you during your captivity in Russia. I am so happy to hear that you have been freed and returned home to Ukraine. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a long and happy life," the author wrote.
Oleksandr received the letter and the signed book on July 31, the birthday of both J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter.
Photo: Letter and signed book from J.K. Rowling (Ukraine WOW)
The marine himself admitted he could never have imagined such an outcome.
"When I was in captivity, I could never have imagined that one day I would receive a letter from J.K. Rowling. Her books helped my fellow prisoners and me hold on to hope, and her words have become a tremendous source of support for me. I am incredibly happy and deeply grateful. Sincerely yours, Major, who survived," Ivanov said.
Ukrainian Marine Oleksandr Ivanov (Photo: Ukraine WOW)
