Russia damages over 700 Ukrainian libraries in under two and a half years

Russia has destroyed 138 and damaged 577 Ukrainian libraries since the start of its full-scale invasion, according to data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, which responded to an inquiry from Chytomo.

As of June 25, 2024, the total number of damaged cultural heritage sites stands at 1,085 objects. Of these, 121 are of national significance, 884 of local significance, and 80 newly discovered.

Libraries in the Kharkiv region have been hit the hardest, with 307 damaged or destroyed, followed by Kherson region with 150, Donetsk region with 125, and Odesa region with 116. Chernihiv oblast has reported 70 damaged libraries, while Kyiv and the surrounding region have reported around 69.

Libraries were destroyed or damaged in 18 of 24 Ukrainian regions. Ukraine’s ministry said nearly all of Luhansk and significant parts of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson regions are under temporary occupation, making it impossible to accurately tally the number of cultural heritage sites destroyed or damaged in the fighting and occupation. 

Russia’s attacks have damaged 113 museums, with 13 completely destroyed and 100 damaged, in addition to harming 715 libraries. 

As reported earlier, the Yaroslav the Wise National Library of Ukraine was recently damaged in a massive Russian missile strike.

Copy editing: Terra Friedman King