On May 23, Russia launched a missile strike against Kharkiv's Factor Druk printing plant, Ukraine's largest printing house, resulting in the deaths of seven employees and the facility's destruction. This incident is the latest in a series of deliberate attacks targeting the Ukrainian book publishing industry, highlighting Russia's broader strategy to undermine Ukrainian national identity.
Oleg Sinegubov, head of the region's civil-military administration, reported that over 50 employees were at the Factor Druk site during the missile strikes. One missile hit the printing shop, and two landed near the plant.
The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office confirmed the number of deaths. The attack was part of broader regional strikes that also targeted residential areas. Julia Orlova, CEO of Vivat Publishing, confirmed a fire at the site. Rescue efforts were underway to clear rubble and save people.
Serhiy Polituchy, the owner of Factor Druk, noted that the loss of the plant could reduce Ukraine's printing capacity by as much as 40 percent. The Kharkiv facility printed about one-third of all new books in Ukraine in 2023. The destruction of such a significant part of the country's publishing infrastructure is a severe blow. Polituchy expressed concerns about the potential collapse of the book publishing industry.
Polituchy stated that restoring the printing house would take at least several months. He emphasized that resolving this issue would be extremely challenging without state and international community support.
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Kharkiv, the unofficial capital of Ukraine's publishing industry, has been the primary target of these attacks. Before Russia's full-scale invasion over two years ago, Kharkiv's printing presses produced over 80 percent of new Ukrainian books.
The escalation of air strikes since the beginning of 2024 has particularly devastated the industry. For instance, a single attack in March destroyed another major print facility and a publishing house, killing five people. Mykhailo Khrypak, a commercial director at one of Ukraine's largest printing plants, warned that the destruction of production capacity would be difficult to recover from.
The attacks have forced remaining publishers in Kharkiv to take drastic measures to protect their staff. Oleksandr Popovych, director of the Unisoft printing plant, established a bomb shelter for 300 employees. However, he has no plans to relocate due to the logistical challenges of moving printing equipment and skilled staff.
Over the past decade, Ukraine's publishing industry has thrived due to a higher demand for Ukrainian-language books following Russia's 2014 aggression. This cultural revival has also influenced Ukraine's music, fashion, and art.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sees this rise in Ukrainian identity as a threat to Russia's imperial identity. He has denied Ukraine's right to exist as an independent nation. His claims that Ukrainians and Russians are 'one people' and that Ukraine is part of Russia are efforts to erase Ukrainian nationalism. Many, including Yale historian Timothy Snyder, contended that Russia's deliberate missile attacks on the publishing sector are a component of a genocide strategy meant to eradicate Ukrainian culture.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking at the Festival of Democracy on May 26, recounted his February 2022 meeting with Putin in the Kremlin. During their four-hour discussion at the infamous long table, Putin articulated his imperial views that borders could be changed by force, dismissing legal norms. He insisted that Ukraine and Belarus are parts of Russia, a notion Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko is reportedly aware of. Putin cited Ukraine's potential NATO membership as a reason for the war, which Scholz dismissed, noting it was unlikely for at least 30 years.
The pattern of behavior in occupied regions of Ukraine supported this view. Reports indicated systematic efforts to eradicate Ukrainian nationality by banning the language in schools, dismantling symbols of Ukrainian statehood, and detaining pro-Ukrainian community leaders. Thousands of Ukrainians were detained or forced to accept Russian citizenship under threat of losing access to essential services. The Kremlin has also indoctrinated Ukrainian children and deported many to Russia for reeducation. These actions aligned with the UN's definition of genocide.
Despite these efforts, Putin's campaign to erase Ukrainian identity appears to be failing. Ukrainian culture is experiencing a resurgence, with fundraising initiatives quickly emerging to support the publishing industry following the recent attacks. This cultural revival, fueled by resistance against Russian aggression, demonstrates the resilience of Ukrainian national identity.
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