Russian strike damages Ukrainian archive holding 15 million publications dating back to 1917
A Russian missile attack on Kyiv damaged Ukraine's national archive of printed publications, leaving a collection of more than 15 million items at risk from moisture and deteriorating storage conditions.
The Book Chamber of Ukraine, which preserves copies of books, newspapers, magazines, maps and other materials published in the country since 1917, suffered extensive damage during the Russian attack late on October 18.
Olha Vaskivska, the institution's director, told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne that several missiles landed near the building at approximately 11 p.m., with the blast waves damaging both its administrative offices and archive storage facilities.
"From the first to the ninth floor, windows were blown out in every room," Vaskivska said.
- Damage to the building of the Book Chamber of UkraineFacebook / State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting
- Damage to the building of the Book Chamber of UkraineFacebook / State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting
Doors were torn from their frames and walls cracked. No employees were injured; only a security guard was inside the building during the attack.
The immediate concern is protecting the archive from the weather.
Vaskivska said windows and doors must be repaired or temporarily boarded up before rain and moisture can reach the collection.
"We have a catastrophe," she told Ukrainian media outlet Detector Media.
According to the director, the archive requires stable temperatures of approximately 17–18°C (63–64°F) and controlled humidity. Disruptions can cause mold and accelerate the deterioration of paper, potentially making historical materials impossible to study.
The Book Chamber holds more than 15 million copies of publications dating back to 1917. Its collection includes books, periodicals, newspapers, illustrated publications and maps.
Ukrainian publishers are required to deposit a copy of each publication with the institution, which receives approximately 100–200 new items daily.
Founded in 1919, the Book Chamber serves as Ukraine's central institution for bibliographic registration and the preservation of the country's printed heritage.
The building was also damaged by Russian attacks in December 2025 and January 2026, but Vaskivska said the latest destruction was considerably more extensive.
The cost of repairs has not yet been determined. There have been no confirmed reports of losses from the archive's collection.
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