After Two Missile Strikes, Knigolav Publishes 'Fire Didn’t Finish Reading' Project Featuring Salvaged Books

Books That Survived Bombardment

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: Knigolav Publishing has put up for sale a selection of books rescued from two Russian missile attacks on its warehouses within a three-month span. Though these volumes bear marks of fire, smoke, or damaged covers, they remain readable and perfect for sharing or displaying. This unique initiative is called “Fire Didn’t Finish Reading.” Buyers can choose from five distinct genres:

• Unbroken Contemporary Fiction
• Tempered Fantasy
• Brave Children’s Literature
• Steadfast Classics
• Resilient Non-Fiction

Titles are provided at random to customers.

Devastating Losses and Industry Support Efforts

This past summer, more than 1.5 million books were destroyed in Ukraine due to Russian shelling. Overall estimates indicate that at least 9.6 million books were lost during the summer months, with some assessments exceeding 10 million. The printing house KONVI PLUS and the publishers Knigolav and Mison.publishing suffered the heaviest damage. According to the Ukrainian Publishers Association, the direct financial impact on the industry is estimated at no less than 1.19 billion hryvnias. The Ukrainian government is working on support measures for affected publishers and has launched a project to collect data on publishers of books and tabletop games harmed by the conflict.

Knigolav is preparing to celebrate its tenth anniversary next month. Representatives shared,

“We envisioned this milestone very differently. Now, however, we have thousands of books that fire didn’t finish reading-and thousands of stories still waiting for their readers. Fire should never have the final word.”

They encourage support for publishers recovering from losses by purchasing books and games, a vital step toward revitalizing the industry.

This project highlights the critical importance of preserving literature and backing Ukrainian publishers amid ongoing conflict. Many cultural institutions have suffered severe damage during the war, making initiatives aimed at industry recovery especially vital. Buying even damaged books stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and a commitment to safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural heritage and identity despite adversity.

In a similar vein, the recent installation at the Frankfurt Book Fair showcased 22 charred books salvaged from the devastation in Kharkiv, highlighting the resilience of literature amidst destruction. This artistic representation underscores the ongoing struggles faced by publishers and the importance of supporting their recovery efforts.