Ukraine’s publishing industry has suffered extensive damage from Russian attacks, which have struck printing houses, warehouses and publishing companies across the country, destroying millions of books.
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On the outskirts of Kyiv, Viktoria Haidai surveys the aftermath of an attack on a printing house that was supposed to be operating to complete school materials for the new academic year.
A Russian missile struck the plant overnight, at a time when production had been increased to prepare around 1.3 million books. This amounted to approximately 10% of the textbooks needed in Ukraine.
Among the rubble, a charred page from an English-language textbook was also found. It read: “My name is William. I am from the United Kingdom. My grandmother lives in Nottingham. It is a beautiful city.”
Local reports indicate that recent attacks on printing houses and publishing companies have destroyed around 12 million books, as well as sites of importance to Ukraine’s history and culture. According to local media, Russia has destroyed around one-third of the books printed in the country this year.
At the site struck in Kyiv, the damage is almost total. Books that were not consumed by the flames were damaged by water used to extinguish the fire or by rain that entered after the roof collapsed.
“I believe this is deliberate on the part of the Russian Federation,” said Haidai, commercial director of the Konvi publishing company.
She explained that in the past two months alone, several of Ukraine’s largest publishing companies have lost logistics warehouses where they kept large stocks of books.
“The Russians are also destroying printing houses in an attempt to erase Ukraine as a nation. But, honestly, they will not succeed,” Haidai added.
According to Ukrainian authorities, more than 35 buildings belonging to the publishing industry have been struck in recent weeks.
The attacks have not targeted only new books and industrial facilities. The used-book market in Kyiv’s Pochaina district was also hit, destroying hundreds of stalls and many valuable books.
While firefighters were still working at the scene, 28-year-old book blogger Liliya Velyka searched through the remains of the market for any books that could be salvaged.
She held a soaked copy of a science-fiction novel in her hands.
“Books are saving us, and losing them is like losing our hearts,” Velyka said.
The effects of the war have also extended to museums, art galleries, film studios, libraries and theaters, beyond the direct damage to the book industry.
The golden domes of the Holy Dormition Cathedral were also damaged at the historic Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex, one of the most important monuments of Ukrainian cultural heritage.
Following a drone attack, a large section of the roof caught fire, while religious artifacts were moved to a safe location. Estimates indicate that repairs could cost around $11.2 million and take up to two years.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra also houses Ukraine’s Museum of Books and Printing. UNESCO added the complex to the World Heritage List in 1990, while in September 2023 it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
During events marking the 975th anniversary of the monastery’s founding, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said he was “deeply saddened” by the destruction.
“UNESCO strongly condemns all attacks against cultural property protected under international law,” he said in the presence of several dignitaries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukrainian Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna stressed that the damage to culture cannot be separated from the military consequences of the war.
“This is an existential war. Russia wants to destroy us as a nation and erase us as a nation, as though Ukrainians do not exist and never have existed. That is why Russia is targeting our cultural heritage and the symbols of our presence here,” Berezhna said.
According to the minister, Russia has attacked more than 1,900 Ukrainian cultural heritage sites and over 2,000 cultural institutions.
As a way of preserving works of art and literature, Ukraine is also turning to digitization. The aim is to ensure that younger generations continue to have access to these materials even when the physical versions have been destroyed.
Experts warn that Ukraine’s entire publishing industry is under immense pressure and that international support is essential to ensure its continuity.
Speaking at the destroyed printing house in Kyiv, Haidai emphasized that protecting the book industry is vital.
“The word is everything. It is our development, our culture and our historical heritage, passed down from one generation to the next,” she said.
