Russians have damaged more than 500 libraries in Ukraine

As of February 25, 2023, 1322 cultural infrastructure facilities have been damaged as a result of Russian aggression, including 508 libraries. This was reported by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

The cultural infrastructure in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Luhansk regions suffered the worst losses and damage.

Clubs, libraries, museums, theaters, philharmonic societies, and art education institutions (art schools and colleges) in 199 territorial communities were damaged and destroyed. At the same time, 505 facilities were completely demolished.

Damaged in total:

• clubs – 623;
• libraries – 508;
• museums and galleries – 69;
• theaters and philharmonic societies – 22;
• art education institutions – 100.

The MCIP notes that there is currently no data on damaged cultural infrastructure in Luhansk and a significant part of the territories of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions that are under temporary occupation.

As a reminder, in the occupied territories, Russians fine for children’s education in Ukrainian schools.

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Photo: UNIAN