Russian Attacks Destroy Nearly 10 Million Ukrainian Books, Targeting Cultural Industry
Since early July, Russian forces have specifically targeted Ukraine's literary sector, leading to the destruction of nearly 10 million books, according to the Ukrainian Book Institute. Notable incidents include the July 19 strike on Kyiv's Konwi printing house by a suspected S-400 missile, which resulted in 600,000 books being obliterated and inflicted $7.5 million in damages. Wiktoria Haidai from Konwi described this as a calculated attack on Ukraine's future. Additionally, 600,000 school textbooks and around 8 million other volumes were lost, including those at Kharkiv's Ranok, which faced drone assaults. CEO Wiktor Kruglow compared these actions to Nazi book burnings. Despite the destruction, the Ukrainian book market continues to expand, with rising sales and new publishers. Deputy Culture Minister Bohdana Laiuk denounced these attacks as assaults on cultural identity.
Key facts
- Nearly 10 million books destroyed since early July, per Ukrainian Book Institute.
- On July 19, a suspected S-400 missile struck Konwi printing house in Kyiv, destroying 600,000 books.
- Konwi lost 50% of production capacity, estimated $7.5 million in damage.
- 250,000 school textbooks and 350,000 other books destroyed at Konwi weeks before school start.
- Ranok's warehouses in Kharkiv hit by drones, destroying 600,000 textbooks and up to 8 million other books.
- Ukrainian book market was recovering: 2024 sales and print runs rose; active publishers increased from 350 to 400.
- Demand for Ukrainian-language books has grown since 2022.
- Dmytro Kuleba's books burned in warehouse; he waived royalties.
- Deputy Culture Minister Bohdana Laiuk calls attacks a crime against cultural identity and national security.
- Industry response includes pre-order campaigns, book chains returning stock, and authors waiving royalties.
Entities
Artists
- Wiktoria Haidai
- Wiktor Kruglow
- Dmytro Kuleba
- Bohdana Laiuk
Institutions
- Konwi
- Ranok
- Ukrainian Book Institute
- NZZ am Sonntag
- Chytomo
- Knygolav
- BookChef
- Konvi printing house
- KnygoLand bookstore chain
- One More Page
- Hramota
- Litera LTD
- Linhvist
- Laboratoriia
- Artbooks
- ASSAб Athena
- MISON
- The Old Lion Publishing House
- RNK-Ranok publishing group
- Readberry
- Zhorzh
- Fabula
- Varvar Publishing
- Osnova
- Svoie
- Korali Books
- Kenhuru
- 4mamas
- Ukraine's Ministry of Culture
- Suspilne Kharkiv
- UNITED24 Media
Locations
- Kyiv
- Ukraine
- Kharkiv
- Mariupol
- Russia