Russia bombed the FaktorDruk printing press and warehouse in Kharkiv on May 23, killing seven people, injuring 22 and destroying more than 50,000 printed books. News outlets have reported the destruction of books by Ukrainian poets and philosophers – but on reflection, the greatest loss may be to children.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, Ukrainian publishers have prioritised the production of trauma-informed books to help children and teenagers cope with living through war. We estimate that more than 120 new titles have been released, a cultural phenomenon that is without historical precedent.
