In an appeal circulating widely this week, the Ukrainian Book Institute is seeking support from the international publishing community after Russian attacks this summer have destroyed millions of books and key publishing infrastructure.

By Andrew Richard Albanese, Editor-in-Chief

As Russia’s war on Ukraine grinds on, it’s been an especially rough summer for the Ukrainian publishing industry. A series of Russian attacks have caused massive damage to key book industry infrastructure, including publishing offices, warehouses, bookstores, libraries, and printing facilities, with more than 10 million books said to destroyed. In response, the Ukrainian Book Institute is appealing to the international publishing community for support. In an appeal circulating widely this week, the UBI’s appeal notes that the Ukrainian government is preparing to allocate funds for the “restoration of infrastructure.”  However, when it comes to the hundreds of thousands of books destroyed in recent attacks, Ukrainian publishers are left to rely on the support from the international community. According to the Institute, Russian attacks this summer have destroyed about 30% of Ukraine’s annual book production—especially troubling with the school year set to start in a matter of days.

“While recovering from the damage caused by Russia’s attacks will require enormous effort, time, and resources, on behalf of the Ukrainian Book Institute, we call on our partners and the international publishing community to support Ukrainian publishers and contribute to their recovery,” reads the appeal, which includes a list of ways the community can offer support, including details of how supporters can make direct financial contributions.

Among those seeking assistance:

Ark.UA Publishing, which reported damage to its offices.

BookChef Publishing House reported the loss of approximately 800,000 books in a July 2 attack, with its remaining stock of 150,000 books destroyed in a second attack last week.

Knyholav Publishing House, which has seen nearly 250,000 books books destroyed, works that “represent years of dedicated work by authors, translators, editors, designers, and printing specialists who bring Ukrainian voices to life,” reps said, in a statement.

Konvi Group, one of the country’s largest printers, which has reported the loss of approximately “600,000 books belonging to publishers including 250,000 textbooks for schools and 350,000 from multiple publishing houses.

MISON Publishing, which has reported that its editorial offices were completely destroyed during a recent attack.

And, a key distribution center in Kharkiv used by RNK-Ranok, and the Knygoland bookstore chain, which reported that nearly eight million copies of books have been destroyed, representing some 28,800 different titles from multiple Ukrainian publishers.

Among its pleas for support, the Ukrainian Book Institute has also renewed its call for the international publishing community to cease cooperation with Russian publishers and literary agencies.

“Any form of collaboration with Russian publishers or literary agencies is a weapon against Ukrainian lives, culture, and the efforts of hundreds of Ukrainian publishers who, despite ongoing missile attacks, continue their vital work,” the appeal reads. “In the face of Russia’s ongoing attempts to erase Ukraine—its people, landscapes, and culture—the publishing industry carries the enormous responsibility of ensuring that Ukrainian voices are not silenced and continue to be heard around the world.”

Meanwhile, Chytomo reported this week that Russian attacks have destroyed 228 libraries in Ukraine and damaged another 678 since the start of the Russian invasion. “As of the end of July 2026, a total of 906 libraries had been affected, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture,” the article notes, with libraries making up the “second largest category of damaged and destroyed cultural infrastructure facilities after cultural and community centers.”