Russian strikes destroy 12M books ahead of Ukraine’s first week back at school

Viktoria Haidai, commercial director of the Konvi publishing firm, expressed her belief that the recent missile attack on a printing press near Kyiv was deliberate, in an attempt to erase Ukraine's identity and culture. The plant, which was preparing to produce 1.3 million books – 10% of Ukraine's schoolbooks for the new school year, was destroyed when a Russian missile struck it during the night.

In the aftermath of the attack, only a charred page from an English language textbook remained, reading, "My name is William, I'm from the UK. My grandmother lives in Nottingham. It’s a beautiful city." Russia has been targeting printing presses and publishing houses across Ukraine, resulting in the destruction of 12 million books and damage to other symbols of Ukrainian history and culture.

The Pochaina second-hand book market in Kyiv was also hit, destroying numerous stalls and treasured books. Liliya Velyka, a 28-year-old book blogger, was searching through the smoldering ruins when she found a soaked copy of a science fiction novel, expressing her deep concern over the loss of books, comparing it to losing their hearts.

Moreover, cultural landmarks like Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a medieval monastery and cultural heritage site, have suffered from drone attacks, causing significant damage to the Golden domes of the Dormition Cathedral. The restoration of the cathedral alone is estimated to cost $11.2 million (£8.2m) and will take two years. The site is also home to Ukraine's museum of books and printing, designated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1990.

UNESCO has strongly condemned all attacks against cultural property protected under international law, stating that such attacks are deeply sad and unequivocally condemn the actions. The Ukrainian Minister of Culture, Tetyana Berezhna, emphasized that Russia's war against Ukraine is existential, targeting not only the country's existence but also its cultural heritage to erase its identity. Berezhna further stated that Russia has attacked over 1,900 pieces of Ukrainian heritage and more than 2,000 cultural institutions.

Digitization is being employed as a strategy to safeguard art and literature, ensuring that children can still learn despite the attacks on physical books. However, there are concerns that Ukraine's entire publishing sector is under threat, and it requires international support to remain viable.