Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Russian Strikes Destroy Ukrainian Books Ahead of School Year
Russian missiles and drones damaged places in Ukraine that print and store books.
About 12 million books were reportedly destroyed.
Many of the lost books were school textbooks needed for the new school year.
A large warehouse in Kharkiv lost about 8 million books.
A printing plant near Kyiv also lost books, paper and other supplies.
Ukrainian officials say the attacks may be meant to weaken Ukrainian culture and language.
Russia denies deliberately attacking civilian, cultural or educational facilities.
Schools may use digital books and online lessons while publishers rebuild.
Strikes reportedly destroyed around 12 million books across Ukraine, including hundreds of thousands of school textbooks.
More than 35 publishing houses, printing plants and distribution centers were reportedly damaged or destroyed.
A Kharkiv logistics center lost around 8 million books, including more than 620,000 prepared textbooks.
A major printing plant near Kyiv had been producing about 1.3 million textbooks for the coming school year.
Ukraine accused Russia of targeting its cultural identity, while Moscow said its strikes target military and energy infrastructure.
- Who
- Russian forces, Ukrainian publishers and government officials, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, are central to the reports.
- What
- Missile and drone strikes reportedly damaged or destroyed publishing facilities, printing plants, warehouses and book markets, destroying around 12 million books.
- When
- The attacks occurred in recent weeks, shortly before Ukraine’s new academic year.
- Where
- The reported damage occurred in Kyiv, near Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine.
- Why
- Ukrainian officials said the publishing industry and cultural identity were deliberately targeted; Russia said its strikes target military and energy infrastructure linked to the war effort.
Ukrainian officials’ assessment
Russian government’s stated position
Whether publishing facilities were deliberately targeted
Ukrainian officials’ assessment
Ukrainian officials and cultural figures accused Russia of deliberately attacking printing houses, warehouses and cultural institutions to undermine Ukrainian identity and language.
Russian government’s stated position
Russia denied deliberately targeting civilian, cultural or educational facilities.
Purpose and consequences of the attacks
Ukrainian officials’ assessment
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said attacks on textbooks before the school year disrupt the lives of millions of children.
Russian government’s stated position
Moscow said its strikes are aimed at military infrastructure and energy facilities linked to Ukraine’s war effort.
- Books destroyed
- Around 12 million
- Facilities affected
- More than 35 publishing houses, printing plants and distribution centers
- Kharkiv loss
- Around 8 million books, including more than 620,000 textbooks
- Kyiv-area printing plant
- Planned to produce about 1.3 million textbooks, roughly 10% of the national requirement
- Estimated recovery time
- Three to five years to rebuild damaged facilities and replace lost stocks
- Expected school response
- Greater reliance on digital textbooks, downloadable PDFs and online learning materials