Up to 46 million hryvnia for reconstruction: how the government will save the printing houses destroyed by Russia
24 July 05:54
Ukrainian printing houses and publishing companies that have lost equipment or property as a result of Russian shelling will be able to take advantage of several government support programs. These include grants of up to 16 million hryvnias to restore production capacity and compensation of up to 30 million hryvnias for damaged or destroyed property.
Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna announced the available programs following a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Economy and the publishing industry, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to the minister, Russian attacks destroyed more than 1.5 million copies of Ukrainian books in July alone. Preliminary losses incurred by publishers and printing houses due to the loss of finished products, raw materials, and publications in production are estimated at approximately 130 million hryvnias.
What assistance can printing houses receive?
Two main financial mechanisms have been established for affected businesses:
- a grant of up to 16 million UAH to restore damaged or destroyed equipment;
- compensation of up to 30 million UAH for damaged or destroyed property under the war risk insurance program.
Thus, a company may potentially be eligible for various types of support totaling up to 46 million UAH. However, this does not mean that the maximum amount will be automatically granted: the amount of payments will depend on confirmed losses, the terms of the specific program, and the results of the application review.
The Ministry of Economy will also advise affected printing houses and publishing houses on selecting a program and preparing the necessary documents.
Grant of up to 16 million UAH: What the Funds Can Be Used For
Affected printing houses can apply for a grant under the state program to support processing enterprises. The funds are intended primarily for the purchase, replacement, and restoration of equipment destroyed or damaged as a result of Russian aggression.
Under the program’s current terms, the grant amount cannot exceed the actual, verified losses. The government covers up to 80% of the project’s cost, while the enterprise itself must provide at least 20%.
Basic requirements also include the creation of at least five jobs and the repayment of the state aid in the form of taxes and fees paid over a three-year period.
Applications, along with a business plan , must be submitted through the “Grant for Processing Enterprises” service on the “Diya” portal. Detailed program terms are available on the website of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.
Who Is Eligible for Compensation of Up to 30 Million UAH
The second mechanism is the state program for insuring against war risks. It provides compensation to businesses for property that has been damaged or completely destroyed as a result of hostilities and Russian attacks.
The maximum amount of such compensation was increased in 2026 from 10 million to 30 million UAH. The program is part of the “Made in Ukraine” policy to support Ukrainian manufacturers, and it is administered by the Export-Credit Agency.
Separately, businesses may be reimbursed for a portion of their insurance premiums. The exact mechanism depends on the business’s location, the nature of the damage, the date the insurance contract was signed, and the availability of documentary evidence of the losses.
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What documents may be required
The final list of documents depends on the selected program. However, an affected business should first and foremost prepare:
- documents proving ownership or right to use the property;
- reports and materials confirming the damage;
- photos and videos of the consequences of the attack;
- information about the equipment and its book value;
- an assessment of losses;
- a business plan for the company’s recovery;
- financial and tax reports;
- documents confirming the absence of tax arrears, if required by the program’s terms.
Businesses should not dismantle or dispose of damaged equipment on their own until authorized services have completed their inspection and documented the damages.
Russian attacks destroyed more than 1.5 million books
According to the Ministry of Culture, the printing house “Konvi Plus,” the publishing house “Knygolav,” and MIMIR MEDIA—which operates under the brand Mison.publishing—suffered the greatest losses in July.
More than 600,000 finished books and textbooks from various Ukrainian publishers were destroyed at the printing house. Another 350,000 copies were in production. Preliminary estimates put the losses of finished products, raw materials, and books in production at approximately 110 million hryvnia.
About 200,000 books were destroyed at the “Knyholav” warehouse. The publisher’s preliminary losses amount to about 20 million hryvnias.
Mison.publishing lost the entire print run of its first book, its office space, and specialized equipment.
Russia is attacking Ukraine’s book industry
In July, Russian strikes targeted not only publishing houses but also warehouses, logistics centers, and production facilities in the book industry.
On the night of July 1, an attack on Kyiv destroyed the central warehouse of Denka Logistics—one of BookChef’s key partners. According to preliminary data, the publisher lost approximately 800,000 copies of books.
The warehouse of the publishing house and online store “Nash Format” also sustained damage. During another attack, a Russian drone struck the premises of the “From A to Z” printing house, damaging walls and shattering windows. No employees were injured.
In addition, a Russian strike on the “Konvi” printing house destroyed nearly 250,000 books, some of which were educational materials. Another 350,000 copies were damaged. The Ministry of Education and Science and publishers are continuing to assess the extent of the losses of textbooks.
The government plans to expand support for the book industry
In addition to assisting affected companies, the government is working to expand the “eBook” program, launch subsidies for bookstores to cover rental costs, and update the program to replenish public library collections.
The Ministry of Culture emphasizes that the restoration of printing facilities is important not only for business. The industry’s production capacity is crucial for printing textbooks, publishing new Ukrainian books, the operation of publishing houses, and readers’ access to Ukrainian-language literature.
Tetyana Berezhna described support for the publishing sector as a matter of cultural resilience and national security.
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