Russia has destroyed 13 million Ukrainian books in three months, publishers say
Publishers report that Russia has burned 13 million Ukrainian books over three months — nearly a third of everything Ukraine printed in 2025 — and have asked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to convene the National Security and Defense Council.
Ukrainian publishers have appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, asking him to convene a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council. The request follows reports that Russia has burned 13 million Ukrainian books within a three-month period — a volume equal to nearly a third of everything Ukraine printed in 2025.
The scale of the losses points to a serious blow to Ukraine's book publishing sector inflicted in a short span of time. Losing close to a third of a year's total print output suggests consequences both for the financial standing of publishing houses and for the availability of books to readers across the country.
Publishers seek top-level response
Industry representatives evidently consider the matter serious enough to warrant attention at the highest level of state security. That is why they have called for the issue to be placed before the National Security and Defense Council, which is chaired by President Zelenskyy.
It remains unclear whether and when such a council meeting will take place, or what specific measures might be proposed to address or offset the losses. The appeal underscores the continuing impact of the war on Ukraine's cultural and educational infrastructure, with the publishing industry emerging as one of the sectors affected.
