Writing in Times of War: Oleksandr Mykhed on Losing Ukrainian Books to Russian Bombs
The systematic destruction of Ukrainian cultural infrastructure by Russian strikes exposes the fragility of artistic production in wartime. As warehouses, publishing houses, and logistical networks collapse under missile attacks, the erasure of books—over 12 million in a single month—reveals a deliberate strategy to sever the transmission of national identity. The attack on literature is not merely collateral damage but a calculated assault on the future of Ukrainian storytelling, where survival itself redefines what can be written, published, or even imagined.
How does the scale of book destruction compare to Ukraine's normal publishing output?
The 12 million books destroyed in August represent nearly half of Ukraine's annual production, which ranges between 26 and 30 million copies per year. This loss in a single month underscores the disproportionate impact of the attacks on the country's literary ecosystem, where entire catalogs of publishers—large and small—were wiped out overnight.
What immediate consequences do these attacks have on Ukrainian writers and publishers?
Publishers are forced to prioritize guaranteed sales over literary risk, leading to the shelving of debut authors, niche works, and experimental literature. Writers lose royalties and income streams, compelling them to abandon ongoing projects or seek alternative employment. The destruction of logistics centers also disrupts the distribution of future publications, creating a ripple effect that may take years to repair.
How does the constant threat of airstrikes reshape the creative process?
The relentless air raid alarms and the destruction of cultural spaces force artists into a state of hypervigilance, where survival takes precedence over artistic ambition. The interruption of cultural events—such as a film screening where air raid sirens rewound the narrative—illustrates how normality itself is redefined, with creativity existing in the interstices of survival.
What role does the international community play in addressing these cultural losses?
The article highlights a disconnect between Western inquiries about the relevance of literature in wartime and the stark reality of cultural destruction. While Ukrainian writers and publishers are killed, displaced, or conscripted, the global response remains framed in abstract questions rather than concrete support for rebuilding literary infrastructure.
Ce que ça pourrait changer
The destruction of Ukraine's publishing ecosystem risks a long-term homogenization of its literary landscape, where only commercially viable works survive. The erasure of books and the displacement of writers may lead to a cultural amnesia, where collective memory is fragmented by the absence of narratives. Additionally, the attack on logistics chains demonstrates how cultural heritage is as vulnerable to war as physical infrastructure, raising urgent questions about the protection of intangible assets in conflict zones.
