After 1.5 Million Ukrainian Books Were Destroyed, Prime Minister Directs Support for Publishers

Government Assistance for the Book Publishing Sector

According to 5 канал: In response to a series of Russian attacks that obliterated 1.5 million copies of Ukrainian books in July, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi has instructed the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance to design a state aid mechanism for the publishing industry. Among the losses, over 410,000 school textbooks were destroyed on July 19 alone, many of which were already packed and ready for delivery to schools before September 1.

Koretskyi announced the need for support in a Telegram post, stating that

"Russia is systematically erasing Ukrainian book publishing. They continuously target printing houses, publishing companies, and book warehouses. Just in July, 1.5 million copies of Ukrainian books were destroyed, with damages totaling hundreds of millions of hryvnias."

According to preliminary assessments from Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science, publishers, and the Institute for Modernization of Education Content, more than 410,000 textbook copies were lost. A portion of these were packaged and ready to be shipped to regions ahead of the new school year.

Strengthening Ukraine's Book Publishing Industry

Koretskyi emphasized that

"even with limited budget resources, the state will find a way to back Ukrainian books. This will allow businesses to resume operations, restock public library collections, and preserve the viability of Ukrainian publishing."

The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance are tasked with developing the support mechanism and identifying effective ways to revive the sector.

This initiative represents a critical move to protect Ukrainian culture and education, both of which have suffered severe damage from the ongoing hostilities. By supporting book publishing, the government aims not only to replace what was lost but also to ensure the industry’s future-a vital component for the country’s national identity and educational system.