Molino Verlag cancels novel about Ukrainian-Russian romance

The Molino publishing house, based in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, has canceled the release of a fictional romance novel titled ‘Who I Am When You See Me’ following intense public criticism. The book, written by Juna Liebrecht, depicts a secret relationship between a Ukrainian civilian and a masked Russian soldier in occupied Kherson.

Critics argued that the story risked romanticizing military occupation, violence, and the suffering of Ukrainian civilians by portraying a Russian soldier as a savior. Matthias Slunitschek, head of the publisher, stated that the decision to halt publication was made at the author's request after the publisher's communication channels were flooded with critical messages.

Slunitschek noted that while the author intended the story to promote humanity and peace over external circumstances, the backlash suggested an organized reaction. Liebrecht expressed regret that the work caused offense, emphasizing that her intention was not to idealize war or insult anyone.