Ukrainian Publishers Seek Support After Russian Attacks Destroy Millions of Books

The Ukrainian Book Institute has issued a plea for help from the international publishing community, following a series of Russian attacks that have devastated the country's book industry. The attacks, which took place in July and early August, have resulted in the destruction of approximately 10m books, including around 8m from the RNK-Ranok publishing group in Kharkiv. This loss is estimated to be around 30% of the total number of books produced annually in Ukraine.

## Background to the Conflict Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has had a profound impact on the country's cultural institutions. The Ukrainian Book Institute has reported that the recent attacks have not only destroyed books, but also damaged the country's book production capacity, leaving some companies at risk of financial collapse. The institute's director, Oleksandra Koval, has warned that the entire book ecosystem is at risk of collapse.

## The Impact on Ukrainian Culture The destruction of books is not just a financial loss, but also a blow to Ukrainian culture and identity. The book industry is seen as being of strategic importance to Ukraine, as it preserves and promotes Ukrainian culture, and gives the country a voice on the international stage. The Ukrainian Book Institute has called on the international publishing community to support Ukrainian publishers, and to raise awareness about the impact of Russian attacks on Ukrainian culture. The institute has also called for an end to cooperation with Russian publishers and literary agencies, saying that solidarity with Ukrainian publishers is crucial to preserving cultural heritage.

## Support for Ukrainian Publishers The Ukrainian government is developing support programmes for affected publishers and printing companies, including grants to restore equipment and compensation for property damage. However, the Ukrainian Book Institute has said that publishers' losses cannot be fully covered by state assistance, and that international support is needed to help the industry recover. The institute is asking for donations to support Ukrainian publishers, and is calling on the international publishing community to work with Ukrainian publishers to help them rebuild and recover. The following table shows the estimated losses suffered by Ukrainian publishers: | Category | Estimated Loss | | --- | --- | | Total number of books destroyed | 10m | | Number of books destroyed in Kharkiv | 8m | | Number of school textbooks destroyed | 600,000 | | Total loss in hryvnias | 1bn | | Total loss in pounds | £16.5m | The Ukrainian Book Institute has said that supporting Ukrainian publishers is not just about preserving an industry, but about defending Ukraine's right to speak in its own voice and shape its own narrative in the world.