Key facts
- Russia has destroyed 12 million books in attacks on Ukrainian printing presses and publishing houses.
- More than 35 publishing facilities have been targeted in recent weeks.
- A printing press in Kyiv, responsible for 10% of Ukraine's schoolbooks, was destroyed.
- Kyiv's Pochaina second-hand book market was also hit, destroying hundreds of stalls.
- Cultural sites, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, have sustained damage.
- Ukrainian officials view the attacks as deliberate attempts to erase Ukrainian identity and culture.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cultural and educational infrastructure, destroying an estimated 12 million books and damaging numerous historical sites. Recent strikes have targeted printing presses, publishing warehouses, and a prominent second-hand book market in Kyiv, just as the country was preparing for the new school year.
One printing press, located on the outskirts of Kyiv, was hit by a Russian missile, halting the production of 1.3 million schoolbooks, which represented 10% of Ukraine's total for the upcoming academic year. Commercial director Viktoria Haidai believes these attacks are deliberate, aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity and culture. Over the past two months, more than 35 publishing facilities have been impacted, with local media reporting that one-third of all books printed in Ukraine this year have been destroyed.
Beyond new publications, Kyiv's Pochaina second-hand book market also suffered significant damage, with hundreds of stalls wiped out. Book blogger Liliya Velyka described the loss as akin to losing hearts. The attacks have extended to other cultural institutions, including museums, art galleries, film studios, libraries, and opera houses. The Dormition Cathedral at the historic Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was damaged by a drone attack, with repairs estimated to cost $11.2 million and take two years.
Ukraine's minister of culture, Tetyana Berezhna, emphasized that these attacks are part of an existential war to destroy Ukraine as a nation and erase its history. UNESCO's Director-General Khaled El-Enany condemned the attacks on protected cultural property. In response to the destruction, Ukraine is focusing on digitizing its art and literature to preserve its heritage. The Russian embassy in the UK, however, has blamed Ukraine's government, claiming cultural sites are used for military purposes and that monuments have been dismantled.