War on Words: Russia Destroyed a Third of Ukraine’s Annual Book Production This Summer
Ukraine says Russian strikes destroyed more than 10 million books this summer, including over 620,000 textbooks, and hit more than 30 publishers.
- On Tuesday, September 1, Russian strikes destroyed up to 12 million books across Ukraine, including more than 620,000 textbooks, as the academic year officially commenced.
- Moscow has systematically targeted Ukraine's publishing infrastructure since 2022, intensifying campaigns this summer; an early August strike on a Ranok logistics centre in Kharkiv destroyed 8 million books alone.
- Direct losses exceed 1.2 billion hryvnias, with hundreds of schools affected by textbook shortages before the term began. For some subjects, Russia destroyed entire print runs for the 2026–27 academic year.
- The Publishers' Association warned the industry is "on the brink of collapse," calling on Ukraine's leadership to convene the National Security Council and introduce emergency support measures.
- Ukrainian Minister of Education Andriy Butenko and human rights experts describe the attacks as "part of Russia's broader genocidal policy," characterizing them as an attempt to destroy Ukrainian identity and cultural heritage.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Russian attacks on printing and publishing houses have increased this summer in Ukraine.
Biblioteca, publishing houses and used book markets ended up under Russian bombs. Destroyed a printing press out of which 10 percent of the total intended for schools for the academic year 2026-27. So Moscow wants to hit Ukrainian culture
War on words: Russia destroyed a third of Ukraine’s annual book production this summer
Russia continues to devastate Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Attacks on the book market, already under threat from the war, have intensified recently – over the summer, a third of Ukrainian publishers’ annual output, including a large proportion of textbooks, was destroyed in warehouses or printing works. Industry representatives are warning of a collapse of the sector, which would deprive Ukraine of the right to speak with its own voice.
leprogres.fr
Russia bombards printing factories and book warehouses with the aim of annihilating Ukrainian culture. Textbooks are the first targeted before the school year. More than 10 million books have already gone into smoke.
The organization noted that Russia seeks to destroy Ukrainian culture, so its targets are not only our homes, businesses, power plants, shopping centers, but also Ukrainian books.
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