Russia's Slovo Literary Award Honors War Writers and Cultural Icons Alike
The winners of this year's Slovo Literary Award were announced at a high-profile ceremony in Russia. The event recognised both established cultural figures and emerging writers, with special attention given to those involved in the Special Military Operation (SMO). Awards were presented by prominent officials, including former President Dmitry Medvedev and Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
The Grand Prix went to filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov for his television essays in Besogon and his broader contributions to Russian culture. Meanwhile, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Rossiya Segodnya (Russia Today), received a special prize for her book In the Beginning Was the Word—In the End Will Be the Number.
This year's awards also introduced a new drama category, won by Yuri Polyakov for his collection of dramatic works, including Angel des Einflusses. Though his plays have yet to appear in public theatre records, Polyakov—Deputy Chairman of the Russian Writers' Union—spoke to Komsomolskaya Pravda about the winners.
SMO participants featured prominently among the honourees. Maxim Bakharev, a Hero of the Russian Federation, earned a special prize for his novella based on firsthand experiences in the Zaporizhzhia region. Another frontline writer, Dmitry Filipov, won in the Master. Prose category despite still serving at the front. Poet Igor Panin, a veteran of the Donbas conflict, was also recognised for his collections about the fighting.
The ceremony included special prizes named after wartime writers Yuri Bondarev and Konstantin Simonov. Awards were handed out by senior figures such as Presidential Aide Vladimir Medvedev, Deputy Defence Minister Anna Tsivileva, and ex-Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin.
The Slovo Literary Award highlighted a mix of seasoned creators and rising talents, many linked to the SMO. Organisers suggested these new voices could soon become widely known in Russian literature. The event underscored the award's role in promoting both cultural heritage and contemporary storytelling.
