In a devastating blow to Ukraine's publishing industry, the Factor Druk printing plant, one of the largest in Europe, has been targeted by Russian missiles, causing catastrophic damage and disrupting the nation's book production. The attack, which claimed the lives of seven employees, has left the industry reeling, with delays in book shipments and an unexpected surge in prices.
The Factor Druk printing plant, a crucial hub for the Ukrainian publishing industry, has long been a bastion of resilience, operating throughout the ongoing war. However, the latest assault has dealt a crippling blow, rendering one shop of the factory inoperable and causing extensive damage throughout the building, forcing the plant to suspend operations.
The losses incurred by Factor Druk, including destroyed and damaged equipment, are estimated to exceed $8.5 million USD, with approximately 100,000 books also destroyed. Tetiana Hryniuk, the CEO of Factor Druk, has expressed the urgent need for foreign aid and the search for used equipment to expedite the restoration of operations, which may take as long as six months.
The impact of this attack extends far beyond the printing plant, as Factor Druk was responsible for producing a third of all books printed in Ukraine, including 40% of the country's school textbooks. The educational sector has been particularly hard hit, with the disruption of textbook production further exacerbating the challenges faced by students and educators.
Oleksandr Popovych, the director of Unisoft, another printing company, described the impact of the attack as "significant and very personal" for his team, as many Factor Druk employees had family ties to the Unisoft factory workers. The human toll of the attack has been devastating, with the loss of skilled professionals in an industry already facing labor shortages. "The loss of human life is the most devastating aspect of this tragedy," said Viktor Kruglov, the director of Ranok publishing house, as "the people who lost their lives in the strike are irreplaceable."
The Ukrainian publishing industry, which has been on the frontlines of both the physical and cultural war with Russia, has garnered support from various corners of the globe. The United States, through the USAID, plans to allocate funds for printing textbooks, while billionaire Howard G. Buffett, a vocal supporter of Ukraine, has announced plans to donate to the factory's recovery. The George Soros-backed International Renaissance Foundation has also provided a grant to support the factory following the attack.
In a bid to bolster the publishing industry, the Ukrainian government has recently passed several measures, including a law that offers rent subsidies for bookstores and issues book certificates to 18-year-olds, valued at $22.50, which can be used to purchase books. "We will not only support the publishing industry, but also popularize Ukrainian books," said MP Yevhenia Kravchuk, one of the legislators responsible for the law.
The "Pulverized Palingenesis" of the Factor Druk printing plant has dealt a devastating blow to the Ukrainian publishing industry, compounding the challenges faced by a sector already grappling with the ravages of war. However, the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people, coupled with the outpouring of global support, offer a glimmer of hope that the industry will rise from the ashes, stronger and more resolute than ever before.
