KYIV, Ukraine -- In a devastating blow to Ukraine's publishing sector, Russian drone strikes destroyed a major publishing hub in Kharkiv on August 1, leading to the loss of millions of books. Viktor Kruglov, head of the publishing house Ranok, was in the process of distributing textbooks when the first drone struck. He described steel melting and a roof caving in as a second drone hit the reinforced concrete warehouse. The fire that followed lasted for nearly a week, consuming millions of books.

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This attack is part of a broader campaign against Ukraine's cultural heritage, which has seen nearly 5,000 cultural sites, including cathedrals and museums, either destroyed or damaged, and 35,000 art objects looted. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Culture, over 13 million books, amounting to a third of the country's annual production, were lost within two months this summer, resulting in $39.3 million (1.75 billion hryvnias) in damages.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has not commented on the impact of these strikes on Ukraine's publishing infrastructure. Despite an increased demand for Ukrainian-language books post-2022 invasion, the destruction is hindering the industry's future. This will likely lead to decreased investments in debut authors and potentially threaten smaller, independent publishing houses, while larger ones may focus on safer bets like bestsellers.

Tetiana Berezhna, Ukraine's culture minister, criticized Russia’s actions as a systematic effort to undermine Ukrainian culture, stating that the resilience and identity of the nation are closely tied to its literature. In addition to Ranok, at least 40 other publishers and multiple bookstores have also sustained damage.

Kruglov highlighted the urgency for strategic support measures to prevent the collapse of the publishing industry, which he regards as critical to Ukraine's national security. The damaged Ranok warehouse had opened in 2013 and processed tens of thousands of books daily. The August attack destroyed approximately 8 million books, including 620,000 textbooks supplied to various schools across the country.

While the company has backup warehouses and cloud-stored files that allow for reprinting, the immediate future remains uncertain. Berezhna noted that attacks on cultural sites, dating back centuries to the Russian Empire, have continued to pose threats to Ukrainian literature's survival.

Challenges include financial constraints faced by publishers, who may prioritize established authors over new ones due to rising costs. The Ministry of Culture is working on a support package that includes state purchases of books for schools, grants for small publishers, and insurance programs for print runs.

Some industry leaders believe that more support is necessary. After a recent attack on the Konvi print shop in July, which left the facility in ruins, commercial director Viktoriia Haidai indicated that replacing essential equipment would cost around 1.2 million euros ($1.37 million) and could take several years.

Iryna Baturevych, co-founder of Chytomo, emphasized that the current losses are unprecedented in Ukraine's history. She expressed concern over the survival of independent publishers and the potential implications for market diversity and children's literature.

Roksolana Pidlasa from the Ukrainian Parliament noted that the ongoing war costs Ukraine $190 million daily, diverting focus and resources away from rebuilding essential cultural infrastructure. As a result, Baturevych highlighted the urgent need for international support to ensure the survival of Ukraine's publishing sector.

Kruglov reiterated the need for governmental support, including better access to loans and investment in infrastructure, emphasizing that an independent Ukraine requires a robust and independent publishing industry.