"Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, known collectively as the Donbas, have been major talking points since the start of Russia's war. With Oleksandr Mykhed's I Will Mix Your Blood with Coal, outside observers will have a chance to actually understand these regions from a cultural, people-oriented perspective. This vital book adds essential cultural context, and, sadly, deepens the sense of tragedy surrounding the ongoing war." - Kate Tsurkan, The Kyiv Independent"Oleksandr Mykhed's book is a tour de force of polyphonic reportage and essay. His voice is witty, wise, and empathetic. He approaches his subject matter - the Ukrainian east, at this moment one of the most important and most misunderstood places on the planet - with a rare combination of deep love and unflinching objectivity." - Uilleam Blacker, University College London