In a devastating overnight assault on August 28, Russian forces targeted multiple warehouses in Ukraine, resulting in the destruction of thousands of books belonging to prominent Ukrainian publishers. This attack has severely disrupted order deliveries, affecting the operations of publishers such as A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha, Vivat, and bookstores Readeat and Book.ua.
Ivan Malkovych, director of A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha, confirmed the destruction of their warehouse, stating that the attack has created significant challenges in fulfilling customer orders. He lamented the loss of many valuable books, describing the aftermath as too ‘apocalyptic’ to share publicly.
Another warehouse in Sviatopetrivske, located in the Kyiv region, also suffered extensive damage, with thousands of books belonging to Vivat and its partners incinerated. Despite the destruction, Vivat announced its intention to continue operations, maintaining the availability of its physical bookstores and digital offerings.
Readeat has temporarily halted order shipments as it assesses the damage and plans to resume deliveries. This incident is part of a broader pattern of aggression, as Russia launched a large-scale drone assault across Ukraine on the same night, with strikes reported in various regions.
