Since 2013, Vladimir Putin has argued that Ukrainians and Russians are “one people”. It’s an attempt to erase Ukrainian identity, part of an assault that has been ongoing for centuries.
Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has regularly targeted Ukraine’s cultural institutions and publishing ecosystem. This summer alone, Russian attacks have destroyed nearly 10 million books, eliminating approximately 74% of Ukraine’s 2026 book output according to analysis by Chytomo, Ukraine’s largest digital media platform for books, publishing and culture.
