Russian attacks on printing presses, publishers and book warehouses across Ukraine have destroyed around 12 million books, just as children prepare to return to school.
One of the facilities affected was a printing press on the outskirts of kyiv that was preparing to produce 1.3 million books, equivalent to approximately 10% of Ukraine’s school books.
The plant was hit by a Russian missile overnight, destroying the building and leaving books and printing materials buried under rubble and rubble.
More than 35 publishing facilities have reportedly been damaged in recent attacks. Local media reports say the destruction accounts for about a third of all books printed in Ukraine this year.
The attacks have also hit kyiv’s Pochaina second-hand book market, where hundreds of stalls and countless books were destroyed.
Book blogger Liliya Velyka, 28, searched through the remains of the market after the fire, hoping to rescue books from the rubble. He described books as an important source of comfort during the war.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of deliberately attacking the country’s cultural and publishing infrastructure in an attempt to weaken its national identity.
Ukraine’s Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna said Russia had attacked more than 1,900 heritage sites and more than 2,000 cultural institutions.
Other cultural sites have also been damaged, including museums, libraries, art galleries, film studios and opera houses.
The kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an important medieval monastery listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was also damaged by a drone attack. Part of the roof of the Dormition Cathedral caught fire and repairs are expected to cost around $11.2 million (£8.2 million) and take two years.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany condemned attacks on cultural property protected by international law.
Ukraine’s publishing industry now faces warnings about its ability to survive continued attacks. Officials say digitizing books and other cultural materials could help preserve Ukrainian literature and ensure children continue to have access to educational resources.
Russia has denied deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure. The Russian embassy in the United Kingdom blamed the Ukrainian government for damage to some cultural sites and claimed that military installations had been hidden at cultural sites.
Despite the destruction, Ukrainian publishers and officials say they remain determined to preserve the country’s literature, history and cultural identity.
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Russian attacks on printing presses, publishers and book warehouses across Ukraine have destroyed around 12 million books, just as children prepare to return to school.
One of the facilities affected was a printing press on the outskirts of kyiv that was preparing to produce 1.3 million books, equivalent to approximately 10% of Ukraine’s school books.
The plant was hit by a Russian missile overnight, destroying the building and leaving books and printing materials buried under rubble and rubble.
More than 35 publishing facilities have reportedly been damaged in recent attacks. Local media reports say the destruction accounts for about a third of all books printed in Ukraine this year.
The attacks have also hit kyiv’s Pochaina second-hand book market, where hundreds of stalls and countless books were destroyed.
Book blogger Liliya Velyka, 28, searched through the remains of the market after the fire, hoping to rescue books from the rubble. He described books as an important source of comfort during the war.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of deliberately attacking the country’s cultural and publishing infrastructure in an attempt to weaken its national identity.
Ukraine’s Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna said Russia had attacked more than 1,900 heritage sites and more than 2,000 cultural institutions.
Other cultural sites have also been damaged, including museums, libraries, art galleries, film studios and opera houses.
The kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an important medieval monastery listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was also damaged by a drone attack. Part of the roof of the Dormition Cathedral caught fire and repairs are expected to cost around $11.2 million (£8.2 million) and take two years.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany condemned attacks on cultural property protected by international law.
Ukraine’s publishing industry now faces warnings about its ability to survive continued attacks. Officials say digitizing books and other cultural materials could help preserve Ukrainian literature and ensure children continue to have access to educational resources.
Russia has denied deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure. The Russian embassy in the United Kingdom blamed the Ukrainian government for damage to some cultural sites and claimed that military installations had been hidden at cultural sites.
Despite the destruction, Ukrainian publishers and officials say they remain determined to preserve the country’s literature, history and cultural identity.
(BBC News)
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