Russian attack on Ternopil kills editor from one of Ukraine’s largest publishing houses

As a result of the Russian missile strike on Ternopil on Nov. 19, 2025, Bohdan Publishing House employee Iryna Chornenka was killed. The publishing house announced this on its Facebook page.

“We are overwhelmed with unspeakable sorrow. The pain knows no bounds. Ira was not just our employee; she was a bright part of our team: a radiant, kind person, the soul of the collective, and a true professional. Her dedication to her work, her talent for editing, and her sincere smile always inspired us. Our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones. We grieve together. We remember,” the company wrote.

Since Dec. 1, 2000, that is, for almost 25 years, Iryna Chornenka had worked as a literary editor at Bohdan Publishing House. Among the publications she worked on were textbooks for primary and middle school, as well as many popular children’s books — Sven Nordqvist’s “About Pettson and Findus,” “Mamma Moo and the Crow” by Jujja and Tomas Wieslander, the educational children’s series “Why? What for? What is it?” and fiction for children and adults — John Scalzi’s “Old Man’s War,” Barbara Kosmowska’s “Ukrainka, and many others.

“The morning of her tragic death seemed like an ordinary cold and drizzly morning, as it often is in late autumn in Ternopil. We don’t know what she was doing in those last moments when the air raid siren sounded and then a Russian missile struck — perhaps finishing her coffee, or hurriedly getting dressed to run to the shelter. And now it no longer matters, because changing anything is beyond human power. What truly matters is that this missile must not kill our memory of Ira Chornenka — a long-time impeccable editor of our publishing house, and above all, a wonderful person, woman, wife, and friend,” they added.

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Main image: Suspilne

Images: Iryna Chornenka, Bohdan Publishing House

Copy editing: Ben Angel