{
  "id": 15773962,
  "title": "Russia destroyed 13 million Ukrainian books this summer, culture minister says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/russia-destroyed-13-million-ukrainian-books-this-summer-culture",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-20T17:17:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ukrinform - Economy",
    "slug": "ukrinform-economy",
    "url": "https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/4176451-russia-destroyed-13-million-ukrainian-books-this-summer-culture-minister-says.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "According to Ukraine's Culture Minister, Russian forces destroyed an estimated 13 million Ukrainian books during the summer of 2022. Culture Minister Vira Berezhna made this grim revelation during a televised broadcast, emphasizing the devastating impact on the country's publishing industry and culture. Berezhna stressed that her ministry and the government are actively developing programs to aid domestic publishers in their recovery efforts. She added that a book-related component will be incorporated into President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Thousand Springs initiative next year, though the specifics of the program have yet to be determined. Berezhna highlighted the importance of supporting book creation and publishing, especially in the context of the ongoing war. The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture is currently working on a comprehensive package of measures to bolster the book sector, including rent compensation for bookstores and the restoration of the eBook program. Furthermore, the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) is set to consider legislation that would extend the eBook program to parents of newborns, providing a state-budget subsidy to help bookstores cover rental costs. The Ministry of Economy and Environment has also introduced policy instruments under the Made in Ukraine initiative, offering grants for production restoration, affordable loans, and compensation for war-related risks and insurance premiums. These measures primarily target fixed assets, such as buildings, premises, and equipment, but books remain the most valuable asset for publishers and bookstores.",
  "summary": "Russia destroyed 13 million Ukrainian books this summer, targeting the country’s publishing houses, Ukraine’s Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}