Book Sales on Ukrainian Trains Launched After Russian Attacks Destroyed 10 Million Volumes

The Problem

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: Russian strikes on warehousing and printing facilities have destroyed more than ten million books across Ukraine, dealing a severe blow to the country's cultural sector. This past summer alone, at least 9.65 million copies of Ukrainian books were lost, including eight million destroyed in a single attack on the warehouse of publisher Ranok, which also served as a distribution hub. The attacks have intensified concerns about the war's broader toll on Ukraine's cultural heritage.

The Response

Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine's state railway, has responded by letting passengers add Ukrainian books to their ticket purchases and pick them up onboard. The service is currently available on international routes to Poland, Hungary, Moldova, and Romania, including services to Przemyśl, Chełm, Budapest, Chișinău, and Bucharest. It also operates on ten domestic trains, such as:

• No. 81/82 "Sakura" Kyiv – Uzhhorod
• No. 95/96 "Hutsulshchyna" Kyiv – Rakhiv
• No. 01/02 "Yednist" Kharkiv – Rakhiv
• and several other routes.

Through the "Obiimashky" loyalty program, passengers can earn bonuses and receive discounts on print books, e-books, and audiobooks. Book partners taking part in the loyalty initiative include Readeat, Abuk, Knyholend, Maisteria Istorii Mriielov, Librarius, Knyharnia Ye, MEGOGO BOOKS, #knyholav, and Ukraїner.

How It Works

Offering books through the railway creates new ways for Ukrainian literature to survive and grow during wartime. It gives readers access to cultural works while also channeling revenue to Ukrainian authors and publishers at a moment when their industry has suffered major losses. By using the service, passengers are not just ordering books: they are helping rebuild the cultural landscape damaged by Russia's aggression.

The destruction of such a huge number of volumes underscores how deeply the war has affected Ukraine's cultural life. The railway's initiative marks a meaningful step toward restoring access to literature and supporting the people who create it. In the longer term, this kind of service could play a real role in preserving national identity through books, even as the country continues to endure war.

As the cultural landscape in Ukraine continues to be reshaped by the ongoing conflict, initiatives like the book sales on trains are crucial for supporting local authors and publishers. Interestingly, in a similar effort, the eBook program has seen remarkable success, with Ukrainians purchasing over 114 thousand eBooks in just six months. This demonstrates a strong commitment to preserving and promoting Ukrainian literature during these challenging times.