Access to the 'Book World' Online Store Restricted
Ukraine's State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection (Derzhspetszviazok) has blocked the online store 'Knyzhnyi Myr' (Book World). This action was taken following a joint investigation by the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which found the site was distributing sanctioned literature and Russian propaganda. Since July 2025, Ukrainian authorities have shut down 23 similar online platforms for trading in proscribed materials. This is part of a sustained effort to counter Russian influence operations within Ukraine's information space.
The investigation revealed that 'Book World' was selling banned books, including pseudo-historical works by authors D. Belousov and S. Nechaev. Nechaev's book 'Invented in Russia' received a negative assessment from Ukrainian broadcasting experts back in 2018 and was subsequently prohibited. The store also traded products from sanctioned Russian publishing houses, such as:
- “Eksmo”
- “AST”
- “Piter”
- “Knyzhnyi Mir”
The owners of the resource violated Ukraine's 'Law on Electronic Commerce' by concealing their legal status. Access to the store can only be restored after the termination of martial law and provided the owners legalize their operations. Other online stores, including 'Knyzhkova Lavka' and Leader-Books, have attempted to resume activity under new domains but were promptly blocked again.
Context and Information Security
The broader situation remains complex. Separately, a spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, Vladyslav Voloshyn, denied reports about the capture of the settlement of Rizdvianka in Zaporizhzhia region.
The restriction of access to 'Book World' is part of a broader campaign by Ukrainian authorities aimed at combating Russian propaganda and the distribution of sanctioned products on Ukrainian territory.
— source: Ukrainian authorities
This decision underscores the critical importance of controlling the information space during wartime, where disinformation can have serious consequences. The measures taken also highlight the state's focus on protecting cultural identity and national information security.