Russian strikes destroy 12 million books ahead of Ukraine's first week back at school
Ukraine says Russia is deliberately attacking its culture, after strikes on publishers and churches.
Viktoria Haidai, commercial director of Konvi publishing firm, witnessed the destruction of a printing press in Kyiv, Ukraine, which was targeted by a Russian missile during a busy night. The facility was in the process of producing 1.3 million books, constituting 10% of Ukraine's schoolbooks for the upcoming academic year. The remains of the press revealed a charred page from an English language textbook, featuring a message from a British author named William.
Russia has been targeting printing presses and publishing houses across Ukraine, resulting in the destruction of 12 million books and damage to cultural landmarks. This effort is part of Russia's strategy to erase Ukraine as a nation, as it seeks to destroy the country's identity and culture.
The attack on the Kyiv printing press was not the only incident of book-related destruction in the country. The Pochaina second-hand book market in Kyiv also fell victim to a fire, resulting in the loss of numerous stalls and treasured books. Local media reported that Russia has damaged one third of all books printed in Ukraine this year. Haidai believes that the attacks on Ukrainian publishing houses are deliberate, aiming to erase the nation's cultural heritage and identity.
Kyiv's Pochaina second-hand book market was also hit, resulting in the loss of hundreds of individual stalls and countless treasured books. Despite the catastrophic damage, local book blogger Liliya Velyka found a soaking copy of a sci-fi novel among the ruins. She expressed her grief, stating that losing books felt like losing a part of their hearts.
Museums, art galleries, film studios, libraries, and opera houses have also been damaged, causing an estimated $11.2 million (£8.2m) in repairs and a two-year recovery period. The site, home to Ukraine's museum of books and printing, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been in danger since 2023.
The Russian embassy in the UK denied deliberately targeting cultural heritage sites, claiming that Ukraine's government had dismantled monuments and renamed streets to conceal military facilities. However, Ukraine's Minister of Culture, Tetyana Berezhna, argued that Russia's attacks on cultural heritage are an attempt to destroy the nation's identity and erase its existence.
Berezhna emphasized that Russia understands the importance of cultural heritage to Ukrainians, as it helps preserve their identity and protect their history. UNESCO has condemned all attacks against cultural property, stating that such actions are unacceptable and violate international law.
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