Despite Targeted Russian Strikes on Book Warehouses and Print Runs, Printers and Publishers Remain Committed to Fulfilling Their Obligations
In daily reports on the aftermath of Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, accounts of destroyed printing houses, publishing facilities and burned-out warehouses have long ceased to be isolated incidents. Ukrinform has repeatedly reported on publishers—large and small—suffering devastating losses as a result of deliberate Russian attacks.
However, in the summer of 2026, Russia’s “book terrorism” took on a new and even more alarming dimension: Russian forces began deliberately striking facilities holding school textbooks that Ukrainian children were due to use when the new school year began on September 1. The enemy was well aware that some of these textbooks could not simply be replaced, as this year’s editions are based on new curricula and include newly developed materials.
The destruction of educational literature in targeted strikes in July and August has reached critical proportions. Government officials and the heads of printing and publishing companies are unanimous: these attacks are not merely random strikes, but a deliberate and systematic attempt to destroy Ukrainian education, language, and identity.
