Russian Strike Burns 800,000 Books to Ash, Says Ukrainian Publisher

BookChef Publishing, a prominent Ukrainian publisher known for works by authors like George Orwell and Barack Obama, announced the destruction of roughly 800,000 books in a significant Russian strike on Kyiv. The overnight attack, which claimed at least 21 lives and injured many others, represents one of the most substantial aerial assaults by Russia since the invasion began five years ago.

Ukraine has consistently accused Moscow of targeting its cultural heritage sites, including museums, galleries, film studios, and historical landmarks like Kyiv's 11th-century monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. BookChef Publishing shared the news via Telegram, stating that the central warehouse of their logistics partner, where the books were stored, was devastated.

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As a result of Russia's nighttime attack, the central warehouse of our logistics partner ... where our books were stored was destroyed.

"Most of the print run – approximately 800,000 books – has been lost," the publisher reported. They released images showing the destroyed building and the surrounding rubble, with firefighters working at the scene. Fortunately, the company confirmed that none of its employees were injured in the attack. BookChef Publishing boasts a catalog of over 700 titles, featuring bestsellers from international authors such as Yuval Noah Harari, Michelle and Barack Obama, Matthew McConaughey, Will Smith, George Orwell, and Charles Bukowski.

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Most of the print run – approximately 800,000 books – has been lost.