Russia Destroys 12 Million Ukrainian Books in Targeted Attacks on Cultural Sites
Russia has destroyed 12 million books in Ukraine through targeted strikes on printing houses, publishers, and second-hand bookshops, surpassing the combined populations of Greece and Cyprus. In 2026 alone, a third of all printed books and 10% intended for schoolchildren have been lost. More than 35 publishing sites have been hit within weeks.
But the destruction extends beyond books to Ukraine's broader cultural heritage. Museums, galleries, film studios, libraries, opera houses, and historic monuments are also under attack. Notably, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a medieval monastery and UNESCO World Heritage Site, suffered damage to its golden-domed Cathedral of the Dormition, with repairs estimated at $11.2 million over two years. The same complex houses Ukraine's Museum of Book and Printing.
Ukraine's Culture Minister, Tetiana Berezhna, emphasized Russia’s intent to erase Ukrainian national identity by targeting cultural symbols. Over 1,900 heritage monuments and 2,000 cultural institutions have been attacked, continuing a long history of warfare aimed at destroying cultural memory and history.
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