Russia’s War Has Damaged or Destroyed 770 Libraries in Ukraine, Threatening Cultural Memory
Russia’s full-scale invasion has damaged or destroyed at least 770 libraries across Ukraine, Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Tetiana Berezhna said on Tuesday.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.
In a statement marking Ukraine’s annual Library Day, celebrated every September 30, Berezhna said the country’s cultural heritage, including rare collections and archives, has come under deliberate attack since February 2022.
“The full-scale invasion has put thousands of cultural heritage sites in Ukraine at risk, among them unique library collections and archives. The enemy deliberately and purposefully destroys them, steals priceless evidence of our ancient history, attempting to erase the identity of the Ukrainian people,” Berezhna said. “And this is not only the loss of books, but a threat to national memory, cultural continuity, and citizens’ access to knowledge.”
Despite the destruction, Berezhna stressed that libraries have become symbols of resilience. Since the first days of the war, many have transformed into hubs for volunteer work, community support, and cultural resistance.
They now provide spaces for displaced people, psycho-emotional assistance, and international outreach to share the truth about Ukraine.
“Despite daily dangers and enemy attacks, library specialists succeed with honor in fulfilling their noble historical mission, for every project implemented by a library is a step into the future: the creation of dynamic multifunctional spaces where education, culture, science, and technology are combined; expanding the range of services according to the needs of modern users; access to resources for learning, self-development, creativity, innovation, and cooperation, and more,” she said.
Ukraine has accused Russia of systematically targeting cultural heritage sites, from museums and theaters to archives and libraries. UNESCO has previously warned that the war poses an existential threat to Ukraine’s cultural identity.
Berezhna praised librarians and cultural workers for carrying out their mission under constant threat of missile and drone strikes.
“All-Ukrainian Library Day reminds us not only of the importance of books and knowledge but also of the resilience of those who preserve them amid war,” she added.
As The Gaze reported earlier, an investigation by Ukrainian outlet Texty.org.ua has uncovered that Russia’s two leading state museums hold more than 110,000 cultural artifacts removed from Ukrainian territory.