Looking for a New Access to Reality: Russian Documentary Poetry since 2008

<jats:p>This chapter examines Russian-language documentary poetry from 2008 to 2024, before and after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine—an event that transformed innovative Russophone literature through emigration and intensified censorship. Pre-2022, three trends emerged: poetry using court documents to expose how courts address domestic violence and police brutality; medical narratives from healthcare professionals and patients; and works dealing with historical trauma through family archives and intergenerational dialogues. Post-2022, documentary poetry underwent intense transformation, emphasizing the historical significance of individual experience. The invasion has fundamentally altered the landscape of Russian literary production. Contemporary documentary poetry now serves as a crucial medium for preserving personal testimonies and challenging official narratives.</jats:p>