Russian Drone Strike Destroys 8 Million Books at Kharkiv Publisher Ranok
In August, a drone strike from Russia devastated a warehouse in Kharkiv belonging to the Ukrainian publisher Ranok, wiping out 8 million books and over 85% of their stock, including 628,000 new schoolbooks. The Ukrainian government estimates that this summer, 13 million books were lost, which is about one-third of what was printed nationally this year. Over in London, the British Museum is set to offer an audio-described tour of the Bayeux Tapestry, on loan from France until July 2027, following a claim under the Equality Act by Yusuf Ali Osman, who is blind. In Boston, sculptor Robert Lazzarini has revealed his piece for the Venice Biennale’s US pavilion, now assigned to Alma Allen after funding issues. Meanwhile, David Fincher's Netflix deal has ended; his film Mank, which cost $25 million, only made it to the platform's top 10 for one day, while The Killer earned $452,000 from a $175 million budget. In North America, Australian DJ Lenny Pearce is selling out shows aimed at kids under 5, wrapping up by 8 p.m. Lastly, a writer from Salon on X shared memories of sorting college-radio mail and finding Fleet Foxes, mentioning that an AI generator named Suno has "solved infinite personalized music."
Key facts
- A Russian drone strike in August destroyed 8 million books at a Kharkiv warehouse belonging to Ranok, a Ukrainian publisher.
- More than 85% of Ranok's stock was destroyed, including 628,000 new schoolbooks.
- The Ukrainian government estimates 13 million Ukrainian books were destroyed this summer, a third of everything printed in the country this year.
- The British Museum, which has the Bayeux Tapestry on loan from France until July 2027, will now run an audio-described tour after Yusuf Ali Osman filed an Equality Act claim.
- The museum had said light limits on the tapestry meant self-guided visits took priority.
- Robert Lazzarini, the sculptor known for distorted American symbols, has shown the work planned for the Venice Biennale’s US pavilion, which went to Alma Allen after the University of South Florida couldn’t raise $5 million.
- David Fincher’s six-year Netflix deal is over; Mank cost $25 million and spent one day on the streamer’s top 10, while The Killer took $452,000 at the box office against a $175 million budget.
- Australian DJ Lenny Pearce is selling out North American venues with raves for children under 5, home by 8 p.m.
Entities
Artists
- Yusuf Ali Osman
- Robert Lazzarini
- Alma Allen
- David Fincher
- Lenny Pearce
Institutions
- Ranok
- The Guardian
- British Museum
- University of South Florida
- MassArt
- Netflix
- The Verge
- NPR
- Suno
- Salon
Locations
- Kharkiv
- Ukraine
- France
- Venice
- Boston
- United States
- North America