Kyiv bookstore ‘Plekai’ damaged in Russian strike

A Russian strike has damaged the Kyiv bookstore “Plekai.” During the missile and drone attack on Kyiv on the night of Oct. 21–22, “Plekai,” a secondhand bookstore located in one of the city’s historic districts, sustained damage.

According to “Plekai” co-founder Kateryna Ivanova, who spoke to Suspilne Kultura, there were no casualties, and the bookstore will continue to operate as usual. “Plekai” is located at 22 Spaska Street and opened in 2023. Later, a branch of the bookstore also appeared in Lviv.

Photo: The bookstore’s co-founder and a staff member of Plekai cover the shattered windows.

The strike also damaged the showroom of Etnodim — a brand of contemporary embroidered clothing — and the Great Choral Synagogue of Kyiv. A member of the Jewish community, Olena Kimelfeld, told Suspilne that the blast wave shattered windows and stained glass created 25 years ago during the temple’s restoration, as well as damaging doors and the air duct system.

As reported earlier, in 2025 the bookstores “Book.ua,” “Readeat,” and “Knygoland” in Kyiv were also damaged by shelling. In Kharkiv, stores of the “Knygoland” and “Family Leisure Club” chains, as well as the “Triada-Pak” printing house, suffered destruction.

RELATED: British Council office, several bookstores, media offices and newsrooms damaged during night attack on Kyiv

Copy editing: Joy Tataryn