Millions of Ukrainian books have been destroyed as Russia increasingly targets the country’s publishing industry. Printing houses, publishing offices, warehouses and book markets have all come under attack.
At one warehouse in Kharkiv alone, eight million books burned, including 600,000 textbooks intended for Ukrainian schools. In Kyiv, a missile strike destroyed half a million books at one of the country’s largest printing plants. Other attacks have wiped out newly printed titles, rare editions and entire book collections.
Ukrainian publishers say the destruction goes far beyond financial losses. They see it as an attack on the country’s culture, education and intellectual foundation.
Independence Avenue Media visited the ruins of printing houses and book warehouses to see what was lost and how Ukraine’s publishing industry is trying to rebuild.
A War on Ukraine’s Books: Russia Targets Publishers, Textbooks and Culture
To provide clarity in a complex world through fact-based storytelling about American policy, politics, and society.