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https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/91178-ukrainian-publishers-fight-on.html>
"Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started on February 24, continues to
disrupt Ukraine’s publishing industry, as warehouses are destroyed, logistics
break down, and employees are displaced. Moreover, Russia continues to try to
undermine, delegitimize, and ultimately eradicate Ukrainian culture, as part of
a contemporary campaign that dates back to when Ukraine achieved its
independence in 1991.
At the end of November, a delegation of American writers traveled to Kyiv to
present a new report on the war’s impact on Ukrainian culture compiled by PEN
America and PEN Ukraine. The report noted that Russia sought to stifle
criticism of the war by silencing Ukrainian writers and artists, including
Vladyslav Yesypenko, a journalist and recipient of the 2022 PEN/Barbey Freedom
to Write Award, who was imprisoned in March. At least 31 Ukrainian writers and
artists and have been killed since the war started, either by Russian
authorities or while fighting.
The report also states that the Ukrainian government has documented damage and
destruction to at least 49 libraries and archives. Oksana Boiarynova, a member
of the Ukrainian Library Association’s board, reported in August that 2,475
Ukrainian libraries, out of about 15,000, were closed as a result of the war,
and another 21 were completely destroyed.
Russian soldiers have also seized and destroyed Ukrainian literature and
Ukrainian-language books from public libraries in numerous cities, according to
the PEN report. Museums have been looted, as well. In all, more than 500
cultural institutions have been impacted by the war.
But through it all, the Ukrainian publishing industry continues to operate.
According to a survey conducted by Chytomo, the online trade magazine of the
Ukrainian publishing industry, 85.9% of Ukraine’s publishers were operational
in late September, up from 39% in April; the remaining 14.1% were at least
partially at work. Furthermore, 10% of the publishing houses were forced to
relocate, and 28.6% of publishers had employees or operations dislocated by the
war."
Via Esther Schindler.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
