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More from World<\/p>\nMore than 35 printing plants, publishing facilities and warehouses have reportedly been hit, destroying textbooks meant for Ukrainian schools as the new academic year begins <\/p>\n
A series of Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine\u2019s publishing and logistics infrastructure has destroyed around 12 million books, including hundreds of thousands of newly printed school textbooks, Ukrainian industry officials and government representatives told the BBC.<\/p>\n
The attacks come as schools across Ukraine prepare to begin a new academic year, raising concerns about shortages of textbooks and other educational material.<\/p>\n
More than 35 publishing houses, printing plants and distribution centres have reportedly been damaged or destroyed in recent weeks. The losses amount to nearly a third of Ukraine\u2019s average annual book production.<\/p>\n
Printing plants and warehouses hit<\/p>\n
One of the biggest losses came after an overnight strike on a major printing facility near Kyiv. The plant had been increasing production to print around 1.3 million textbooks, accounting for roughly 10 per cent of the books required nationwide for the coming school year.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing is salvageable at the Kyiv printing plant,\u201d Viktoria Haidai, commercial director of publishing company Konvi, told BBC. She said fires and building collapses destroyed printed books as well as stocks of paper and other materials.<\/p>\n
Earlier attacks destroyed a major logistics centre operated by Ranok in Kharkiv. Around 8 million books were reportedly lost, including more than 620,000 textbooks that had been prepared for distribution to schools.<\/p>\n
Warehouses belonging to major publishers including Vivat, Knyholav and A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA were also hit in Kyiv and nearby areas.<\/p>\n
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