Lesya Ukrainka is a pen name of Larisa Kosach. She was born in Novograd-Volynsky on February 15, 1871. Lesya’s father was a lawyer and her mother was a Ukrainian wtiter. She wrote under pen name Olena Pchilka.
Lesya was the second child of Ukrainian writer and publisher Olha Drahomanova-Kosach (better known under her literary pseudonym Olena Pchilka). Mykhaylo Petrovych Drahomanov, a well-known Ukrainian scientist, historian, philosopher, and folklorist was a brother of Drahomanova-Kosach.
Ukrainka’s mother played a significant role in her upbringing. Ukrainian language was the only language used in the household. Children were educated by Ukrainian tutors at home, in order to avoid schools that taught Russian as the primary language.
Lesya had close ties with distinguished public and cultural figures of her time and that had a great influence in her formation as a poet. Among her friends there were the composer M. Lysenko, the poet M. Kostomarov, and the poet V. Samoylenko.