“Russia has destroyed almost 200 million Ukrainian books”: how Ukrainian Publishing House joins forces with charity fund for retribution against occupiers

What is the problem?

Cars typically do not last for extended periods at the front – from two weeks to two months at most. The demand for them remains consistently high and only increases with the intensity and activity of fighting.

The same cannot be said for Russian books that can be found on Ukrainian bookshelves. There's a reason why we mention them alongside military vehicles.

You don't want to have any involvement with Russia, but there are still books written in the language of enemies on the bookshelves? Don't simply throw away or burn them! They can be helpful for transportation on the front. How? Keep reading.

What is the solution?

Let's eliminate all Russian literature once and for all and repurpose them as weapons against the aggressive country, as suggested by the "Hurkit" Charity Fund. Collaborating with the Ukrainian Vivat Publishing House, the foundation has launched a nationwide campaign to gather outdated/Soviet/Russian-language/propaganda materials. The goal is to collect waste paper in exchange for a new pickup truck for the Ukrainian air defense forces.

How does it work?

The "Hurkit" Charity Fund has announced a fundraiser to provide with necessary equipment ten mobile fire groups, known as "Jedi of Air Defense Forces," by the end of December. To accelerate donations, the Fund is inviting businesses to join the effort. A partnership with Vivat Publishing House and bookstores allows every Ukrainian to leave their mark on this history-making event.

"We committed to assist air defense units that intercept Iranian-Russian drones in the Mykolaiv and Kyiv regions. Specifically, these are the soldiers responsible for protecting our country's capital and central and western cities. Our main objective is to provide ten mobile fire groups with everything they need, including pickups equipped with turrets, thermal imagers, searchlights, communication systems, power sources, tablets, and fire control software," explains Vlad Samoilenko, founder of the "Hurkit" Charity Fund.

This is not a cheap endeavor – "Hurkit" needs to gather a total of 10 million hryvnias. Everyone has the opportunity to contribute and help enhance air defense and show their appreciation to Ukrainian defenders for maintaining clear skies, protecting lives, and preserving infrastructure conveniently and enjoyably.

Ukrainians have the opportunity to declutter their shelves, balconies, garages, and cottages of unwanted Russian books, unused items, and paper waste. They can donate them to the Vivat bookstore, which will then send them to the "Hurkit" Charity Fund for recycling. The money raised will go towards purchasing a car for the "Shahed hunters."

"I believe that supporting our defense forces is the main task of the rear during the war," comments Yuliia Orlova, the Vivat Publishing House general director. "Over the course of nearly two years of a full-scale war, Russia destroyed more than 220 Ukrainian libraries, with 400 library buildings sustaining damage. In total, almost 200 million books were destroyed. In contrast, during its ten-year span, Vivat's publication output reached nearly 23 million books – a significant number, but still nine times less than the number destroyed by Russia. As a result, it will take us over a year to rebuild our book collection. Therefore, in my opinion, it is not fitting for Russian books to hold a place in the personal libraries of Ukrainians. Instead, they should be sent for processing, with the funds allocated towards purchasing a pickup truck for air defense. This would specifically strengthen the 1st mobile fire group, which will be tasked with operating in areas where the Shahed drones are most commonly seen."

Vlad Samoilenko, the founder of the "Hurkit" Charity Fund, explains how the collection process works:

Bookstores in the following cities accept books at these locations:

• Kyiv: 8 Petro Sahaidachnyi Street, and 101 Velyka Vasylkivska Street;
• Lviv: 12 Halytska Square;
• Kharkiv: 2 Kvitka-Osnovianenko Street, and 67 Sumska Street;
• Ivano-Frankivsk: 4 Trusha Street, and 5 Rynok Square.

All stores are open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, and from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday through Sunday.

^{Oleh from Kyiv brought a box of Russian books to Vivat bookstore and was thrilled to receive a pleasant discount as a bonus. He ended up purchasing a book in Ukrainian.}The fundraiser will run until March 20. To expedite the collection and motivate participants even more, "Hurkit" and Vivat are offering extra incentives:

• For every 5 kg of paper waste submitted, individuals receive a 30% discount on their subsequent purchase at Vivat bookstores.
• The initiators are preparing postcards that will soon be available for sale. According to them, "They're really cool." The proceeds from the postcards will also go towards supporting the "Vivatmobile" for air defense.
• Each receipt for buying Ukrainian books at Vivat bookstores will also contribute a few hryvnias to the fee.

The promotion does not apply to other cities. To send books to "Hurkit," individuals can use Ukrainian postal services, namely Ukrposhta or Nova Poshta (to obtain the recipient's address, they can message the foundation privately on Facebook). Vlad Samoilenko explained that "Hurkit" is currently in talks with postal companies to offer free delivery of Russian-language waste paper to Kyiv. Residents may also arrange a local waste paper collection or bring it to a recycling center and donate the funds received to the "Fundraiser for the Jedi of Air Defense Force bank account."

Will it definitely work?

"We are pleasantly surprised by the quick resonance and positive perception of our joint action with Vivat," says Vlad Samoilenko. "It's amazing; it's like people have been waiting for it for a while. We launched the campaign on January 20, and by January 22, one of the bookstores in Kyiv requested to have the old Soviet and Russian literature, along with notebooks, magazines, and brochures, removed from their premises. Approximately 400 kg of waste paper was handed over to the bookstore in Podil in just two days."

It will cost approximately UAH 250,000 to buy one pickup – a "Vivatmobile" for air defense. According to Vlad Samoilenko, based on the current price of 3.5 or 4 hryvnias per kilogram of waste paper, it is evident that a minimum of 60 tons of Russian books are required. That's a considerable amount. Nevertheless, the success of the "Hurkit" Charity Fund proves this task is achievable.

In 2022, "Hurkit" had already partnered with the Kyiv communal bookstore "Siaivo" ["Shining" in Ukrainian – ed.] for a similar campaign.

"Then something amazing happened – surprisingly quickly, we acquired a "junk paper Siaivo car." We donated a pickup truck to the military in early November of 2022 on the border between the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. This vehicle consistently carried out the soldiers' duties, and by February of 2023, it even rescued them from incoming shelling. I noticed some cracks on the windshield, but those are minor details. The most important thing is that the defenders are still intact," Vlad Samoilenko shares.

^{The pickup that "Hurkit" purchased for Ukraine's armed forces in 2022}

Even more helpful solutions!

The above picture displays a stack of Russian literature brought to the bookstore by Anna from Kyiv.

"I'm feeling really inspired by a few things lately. Specifically, books and collections that are beneficial for our military personnel. When I can find something that combines the two, it's a complete thrill. Recently, I donated 10 kg of old Russian books after visiting my parents and got a 30% discount at my favorite bookstore, Vivat. I highly recommend it; it gives me a rush of endorphins. And now I have some space on my shelves for good quality books," Anna posted on social media.

According to the Vivat Publishing House, there is a growing amount of waste paper not only in bookstores in Kyiv but also in other cities. In Kharkiv, they have already collected 24 boxes of waste paper. In Ivano-Frankivsk, a visitor has promised to bring nearly 300 kg; in Lviv, they expect 15 bags from the same visitor.

Yuliia Orlova pointed out that these actions unite people around a shared and significant idea. They remind us that we can support the defense forces in various ways, such as bringing Russian books, magazines, and newspapers, sharing information about the cause with friends, and making donations through messaging apps. These actions teach us not to delegate the responsibility for our country's future to others. Instead, we must dedicate ourselves to the cause, as victory is a collective effort for all Ukrainians.

The event organizers urge Ukrainians to participate in the gathering and spread the word to their neighbors, friends, and coworkers. They also encourage citizens to improve their homes while supporting Ukraine's defenders to be more equipped and mobile.