Russian Attack on Kyiv: 800,000 Books Also Destroyed

During Russia’s attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on July 2, which left 31 dead and more than 100 wounded (and which was followed by another attack launched yesterday, July 6, that left 22 dead and 56 injured), Ukraine’s cultural sector was once again hit. During the July 2 bombings, the central warehouse of the logistics partner for the publishing house BookChef—one of Ukraine’s largest—was destroyed, resulting in the loss of approximately 800,000 books intended for distribution. The news was reported by the publishing house itself, which confirmed that a large portion of its print runs was completely destroyed in the fire that followed the attack.

According to a statement from BookChef, the Denka Logistics warehouse, where the publisher’s books were stored, was completely razed to the ground. Despite the extent of the material damage, fortunately, there were no casualties among the warehouse employees. “The most important thing is that all our employees are alive. That is what we are holding on to right now,” the publishing house wrote in a message posted on Facebook after the attack.

The bombing is part of one of the heaviest offensives Russia has launched against the Ukrainian capital in recent months. According to Ukrainian authorities, 74 missiles and 496 long-range drones were launched on the night of July 2–3, most of them targeting Kyiv.

For BookChef, the destruction of the warehouse is a devastating blow. The publishing house explained that approximately 800,000 copies were lost—the result of years of work and the contributions of numerous professionals throughout the publishing industry. “These are books on which authors, translators, editors, illustrators, graphic designers, printers, managers, and logistics professionals have worked. They represent years of work by a vast number of people,” reads the statement released by the publisher.

The consequences of the attack will inevitably affect the distribution of the books. The company has announced the temporary suspension of all promotional campaigns carried out in collaboration with partner bookstores until adequate quantities of reprints can be restored. Logistics operations will also be delayed. BookChef’s CEO, Oleksandr Kirpichov, explained that the company is currently unable to receive, process, and ship orders in the usual manner. “At the moment,” he explained, “we cannot accept, process, and ship orders as usual. This could also cause difficulties and delays for new print runs. We ask for your patience and understanding as we reorganize our logistics.”

Despite the heavy losses, BookChef has assured that its publishing operations will continue. In a message to readers, the publishing house emphasizes its commitment to continuing to publish new titles, investing in the development of Ukrainian publishing, and supporting the national economy even during this particularly difficult time. “We’re still working,” the statement reads. “We know how difficult this night has been for everyone, and that’s precisely why we’re continuing to do our job: we’re publishing new books, investing in the development of Ukrainian publishing, and supporting the economy.” The publisher also issued a direct appeal to readers, inviting them to provide tangible support by purchasing its books: “The best way to help right now is simple: buy our books. Every order represents a tangible contribution to rebuilding our print runs and allows Ukrainian books to continue being published, despite everything.”

This incident represents yet another severe blow to the Ukrainian publishing industry since the start of the Russian invasion. As early as 2024, the sector had suffered a significant loss when an attack on Kharkiv—the city where approximately 80 percent of the country’s book production is printed—struck the Faktor Druk printing plant. On that occasion, over 50,000 books were destroyed and one of the main pieces of infrastructure for the Ukrainian publishing industry was severely damaged, forcing the sector to undergo a difficult reorganization of its production.

BookChef describes itself as a modern Ukrainian publishing house specializing in the publication of international bestsellers. The destruction of such a substantial portion of its inventory represents not only an economic loss but also a severe blow to an industry that, despite more than four years of war, continues to strive to ensure the production and distribution of books in Ukraine.

Russian Attack on Kyiv: 800,000 Books Also Destroyed

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