Utility Breakdown Hits Smoloskyp Publishing House
A burst heating main caused scalding water to pour into the basement of Kyiv’s Smoloskyp publishing house for five hours. Water levels reached knee height, while indoor temperatures climbed to around 60 degrees Celsius. According to employee Pavlo Korobchuk, the situation was dire:
“A disaster at Smoloskyp Publishing. The heating pipe burst, and boiling water flooded the basement for five hours, where tens of thousands of books were stored.” — Pavlo Korobchuk
The hot water flow has been stopped, and pumping operations are now underway. Pavlo Korobchuk managed to rescue several dozen packages of books from Yuriy Lavrinenko’s series and opened windows to ventilate the space, a necessary step to improve conditions in the flooded basement.
Why Cultural Institutions Need Our Support
Smoloskyp Publishing, founded in 1967 in Baltimore, is known for its literary contributions, including a competition launched in 1994. Among its first winners was Serhiy Zhadan. In the wake of this accident, the publisher is calling for volunteer help, with assistance needed as early as June 10. This incident underscores the importance of supporting cultural organizations facing hardship in difficult times. Smoloskyp holds significant cultural value for Ukraine’s literary scene. While the damage threatens its operations, the mobilization of volunteer aid reflects a shared societal responsibility to preserve cultural heritage. With community efforts, Smoloskyp is expected to recover and continue its mission of promoting Ukrainian literature.