The Ukrainian Book Institute has appealed to the global publishing community for assistance after Russian attacks in July and early August destroyed roughly 10 million books, severely reducing Ukraine’s book‑production capacity.
The institute warned that the assaults on publishing, printing and warehouse facilities have placed several firms at risk of bankruptcy. A devastating strike on 1 August targeted the RNK‑Ranok warehouses in Kharkiv, demolishing about 8 million books, after earlier July attacks in Kyiv that destroyed over 1.5 million volumes. Collectively, these attacks have eliminated roughly 30 % of Ukraine’s annual book output.
The RNK‑Ranok logistics hub, which holds books for the company’s various imprints, also serves as the distribution centre for KnyhoLand, the national bookseller operating 51 outlets and multiple websites.
In addition to the roughly 8 million books, about 600,000 school textbooks were also destroyed, bringing the preliminary total loss to nearly 1 billion hryvnias (≈ £16.5 million).
“At this point, we risk the collapse of the entire book ecosystem,” said Oleksandra Koval, director of the Ukrainian Book Institute.
The institute is soliciting donations to aid Ukrainian publishers and urges the international publishing community to collaborate with them and raise awareness of the Russian attacks on Ukrainian culture.
Russia began its full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently occupies roughly one‑fifth of the country’s territory.
On 16 August, a Russian strike on Kyiv triggered a fire at the Pochaina book market, destroying multiple rows of stalls, books and vendors’ property. Established in 1997, Pochaina was once one of Ukraine’s largest book markets, featuring hundreds of stalls and titles from over 120 publishers.
The institute emphasised that the book industry is of strategic importance to Ukraine, as it safeguards and promotes Ukrainian culture and provides a platform for the nation’s voice domestically and internationally.
The Ukrainian government is preparing support programmes for impacted publishers and printing firms, including grants to repair equipment and compensation for property damage; however, the institute notes that state aid alone cannot fully cover the publishers’ losses.
“Against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing attempts to eradicate Ukrainian identity, culture and history, Ukrainian publishing has a unique mission,” said Olena Odynoka, deputy director for international cooperation at the Ukrainian Book Institute. “Supporting Ukrainian publishers now goes beyond merely sustaining an industry; it is about defending Ukraine’s right to voice itself and shape its narrative worldwide.”
The institute also urged an end to cooperation with Russian publishers and literary agencies, stressing that solidarity with Ukrainian publishers is essential to preserving cultural heritage that Russia is deliberately seeking to destroy.
