Ukrainian publishers ask to convene NSDC due to billions in losses
The Ukrainian Publishers Association has called on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to convene a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) due to large-scale losses in the book industry as a result of Russian attacks. Direct damage to publishing houses, printing houses, warehouses and bookstores is estimated at at least UAH 1.19 billion, and around 13 million books were destroyed in the summer of 2026 alone.
The chairman of the board of the Ukrainian Publishers Association, Artem Bidenko, reported this on Facebook.
The association notes that the entire Ukrainian book market amounts to about UAH 7–8 billion in annual turnover. Therefore, damage of UAH 1.19 billion is significant for a relatively small industry that remained vulnerable even before the current series of Russian strikes.
According to publishers’ estimates, the approximately 13 million copies destroyed over the summer constitute a significant portion of the country’s annual print run. Russian attacks affected not only commercial books but also products intended for schools.
One of the largest incidents was the strike on a warehouse in Kharkiv, where products of the Ranok publishing house and the KnyhoLand chain were stored. About 8 million books, including 620,000 textbooks, were destroyed there.
During the summer, Russian strikes also hit the Konvi printing house, the book market near the Pochaina metro station in Kyiv, as well as bookstores and publishing house warehouses. Earlier, Nash Format, Laboratory, BookChef and other industry players suffered from attacks.
Publishers separately remind about the destruction of production facilities. In May 2024, a Russian strike on the Factor-Druk printing house in Kharkiv, where a significant portion of Ukrainian books was printed, led to the deaths of seven workers and large-scale destruction.
Book sales may fall by a quarter
According to industry estimates, the consequences of the strikes could lead to a reduction in the total print run of books in Ukraine in 2026 of up to 15%, and sales in physical terms of up to 25%.
Publishers point out that production capacities, inventories of finished products and destroyed print runs need to be restored simultaneously. At the same time, available mechanisms for rapid financing of reprinting books are currently insufficient.
The association also draws attention to the limited infrastructure of book retail. According to the Ukrainian Book Institute, the total area of stationary bookstores in the country is only slightly larger than the area of six football fields.
What publishers demand from the state
The appeal proposes adopting an NSDC decision that should provide for a set of measures to restore the book industry. In particular, the Cabinet of Ministers is proposed to create an interagency working group and allocate funding to cover losses and restore destroyed print runs, primarily textbooks.
Another requirement concerns war risk insurance. According to industry representatives, existing mechanisms primarily cover real estate, while finished book products and other inventories, which may constitute a significant portion of a publisher’s assets, remain without adequate protection.
In addition, publishers propose launching accessible lending for restoring print runs, resuming state purchases of books for library collections, and ensuring the operation of legally mandated support tools for bookstores.
Industry representatives believe that without additional measures, the consequences of Russian strikes will affect not only individual companies, but also the availability of Ukrainian books, textbooks, and the entire chain – from printing houses and publishers to warehouses and retail stores.
