Russia has destroyed “one third of all the books printed in Ukraine this year.”

On September 25, 2026, The New York Times reported that Russian drones struck a printing press near Kyiv, Ukraine.

The plant housed a facility belonging to Ranok Publishing House, one of Ukraine’s largest publishers of children’s books.

This attack is part of a broader campaign by Russia to target printing presses and publishing houses across Ukraine over the past month.

The goal appears to be the deliberate destruction of Ukrainian culture, particularly literature and educational materials.

Russian shelling has reportedly destroyed as many as 15 million new books in recent months, while Ukrainian officials estimate that one third of all books printed in Ukraine in 2026 have been lost.

These figures suggest that between a third and a half of Ukraine’s annual book production has been wiped out, raising concerns about the country’s literary future.