Key facts
- Ukraine's Culture Ministry launched a $500,000 fundraising initiative on Sept. 21, 2026.
- The initiative aims to support independent Ukrainian publishers facing financial losses from Russian attacks.
- Russian attacks have destroyed 13 million books over the summer, causing at least $32 million in financial losses for the book industry.
- The grant program will prioritize small publishers, with plans to support at least 20 independent publishers with printing costs.
- Grant applications are expected to open in November.
- The ministry is also exploring expanding the YeKnyhya program and facilitating low-interest loans for publishers.
Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukraine's Culture Ministry has initiated a $500,000 fundraising campaign to provide grants for independent Ukrainian publishers who have sustained substantial financial damage from recent Russian missile and drone attacks. The initiative, announced on September 21, 2026, aims to alleviate the severe economic impact on a sector that has lost an estimated 13 million books over the summer.
Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna emphasized the critical role of small publishers in discovering new authors and contributing to literary diversity, noting that the loss of a single print run can halt their operations for months. Russia's intensified attacks on Ukraine's economy have specifically targeted publishers' warehouses and printing facilities, leading to estimated industry losses of at least Hr 1.75 billion ($32 million).
The grant program is being implemented in collaboration with the KSE Foundation, the Ukrainian Book Institute, and the Book Arsenal. Organizers are actively seeking additional partners, philanthropists, and businesses to contribute to the cause. Deputy Culture Minister Bohdana Laiuk stated that the program aims to channel international attention towards supporting vulnerable small publishers through a transparent grant system, with hopes for expansion in the following year.
Grant applications are slated to open in November, with the ministry targeting support for at least 20 independent publishers to cover printing costs. Beyond this grant initiative, the Culture Ministry is also exploring other avenues of support, including enhancing the YeKnyhya program, which assists citizens in purchasing books, and collaborating with the Economy Ministry to facilitate access to low-interest loans for publishing businesses.