Gvantsa Jobava, President of the International Publishers Association said: Our Ukrainian publishing colleagues have consistently been targeted during this terrible war waged by Russia. They are bravely fighting to keep Ukrainian culture alive, to keep Ukrainian children learning. The international publishing community must keep finding ways to support our Ukrainian colleagues and all those publishers continuing their work in war time.

Jessica Sänger, Chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee added: These attacks on Ukrainian books are part of a despicable attempt to erase Ukrainian culture. We cannot stop the wars but we can support our colleagues in war zones and find ways to keep them publishing the books that their communities need.

The Ukrainian Publishers Association and the Ukrainian Book Institute have shared the following reports on the losses.

2 July 2026:  the central warehouse of Denka Logistics, the logistics partner of BookChef Publishing House, was destroyed resulting in the loss of approximately 800,000 books, representing the majority of the publisher’s inventory.The same attack hit Megapoligraf Printing House, one of the principal contractors printing school textbooks for Ranok Publishing House, causing significant damage of printing equipment, paper stocks, semi-finished products, and newly printed textbooks.

18 July: an attack destroyed the warehouse of Knygolove Publishing House, where nearly 250,000 books were lost.

19 July: a Russian ballistic missile struck the Konvi Printing House, one of Ukraine’s leading printing facilities, destroying production workshops, printing and binding equipment, office premises and nearly 250,000 school books and materials for the printing of an additional 350,000 books for numerous Ukrainian publishers.

1 August: a targeted Russian attack destroyed the automated logistics center of the Ukrainian publishing corporation RNK-Ranok in Kharkiv. They estimate around 8 million books were destroyed, including 600,000 school textbooks for the new school year.

Statements from affected publishers can be found here:

Konvi Group

Official statements: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BctB1rekD/,
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1QLiKN5pV5/

Knyholav Publishing

Official statement: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1TH34uMsU3/

MISON Publishing

Official statement: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BjNqYK44v/

Ark.UA

Official statement: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/198GMddwF1/

BookChef Publishing

Official statement: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G9ArjXm2L/

 

Both Ukrainian organisations shared the following appeals as part of their calls for support:

Ukrainian Publishers Association:

  • continue advocating internationally for the protection of publishers, authors, printers, libraries, and educational institutions affected by Russia’s aggression;
  • facilitate the establishment of international emergency support mechanisms to restore Ukraine’s destroyed printing capacity and ensure the continued production of educational books;
  • support coordinated international fundraising initiatives for affected Ukrainian publishers and printing houses;
  • ensure that the deliberate destruction of Ukrainian books and publishing infrastructure remains a permanent item on the agenda of international book fairs, professional forums, and IPA activities.

Ukrainian Book Institute:

  • Cease cooperation with Russian entities;
  • Raise awareness about Russian crimes against Ukraine, particularly those targeting our cultural heritage;
  • Support Ukrainian Publishers;
  • Cooperate with Ukrainian Publishers;
  • Donate to medical charities supporting those affected by the Russian war in Ukraine;
  • Donate to the Ukrainian army.