A large-scale collection of Russian-language books for recycling is underway in Ukraine: the proceeds will be used to support the Defense Forces
18 August 16:26
Since the outbreak of full-scale war, many Ukrainians have been discarding Russian-language and Soviet literature that had sat on the shelves of their home libraries, offices, and institutions for years. But instead of simply throwing away unwanted books, they can be turned into a resource to help Ukrainian troops.
This is exactly how the “Put a Russian Book in the Corner 2.0” initiative works, and it’s returning for the second time this summer. This new wave of the campaign is being organized by the “Gurkit” Charitable Foundation in collaboration with the Old Lion Publishing House, and the collected books will be sent for recycling with the help of the project’s partner, Recycle.
How 110 metric tons of waste paper were turned into 2 vehicles for air defense
The first “Put Russian Books in the Corner” campaign took place in 2024. At that time, in just over two months, Ukrainians collected 110 metric tons of Russian-language and Soviet literature. After turning in the waste paper, they raised 460,000 hryvnias, which were used to purchase two pickup trucks for a mobile air defense unit. The initiative drew participation not only from individuals but also from schools, private businesses, and government agencies.
The campaign highlighted the high public demand for the disposal of Russian-language books that people had been keeping until then. It demonstrated that even literary clutter, which no longer holds value for its owners, can serve a practical purpose—being recycled and transformed into tangible support for the Defense Forces.
Therefore, the second wave of “Put Your Russian Book in the Corner” combines several elements at once: a definitive rejection of Russian cultural products, responsible waste recycling, and support for the Ukrainian military.
Until August 31, Ukrainians can bring unwanted Russian-language paper publications to designated bookstores and cafes operated by the Old Lion Publishing House in Kyiv, Lviv, and Dnipro.
Accepted items:
- Russian-language books;
- magazines and newspapers;
- old catalogs;
- notebooks;
- paper archives and other waste paper.
The collected materials will be picked up by Recycle—a service that buys and hauls away sorted waste. The paper will be sent for further recycling, and the funds received from the sale of the waste paper will be directed by the “Gurkit” Charitable Foundation toward meeting the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Where can you donate books?
Kyiv
📍 18 Mykhailivska St.
Lviv
📍 24–26 Staroznesenska St.
📍 3 Krakivska St.
📍 17 Halytska St.
📍 200A Stryiska St.
📍 33 Bandera St.
Dnipro
📍 1 Sichovykh Striltsiv St.
The organizers are also calling on offices, companies, civic organizations, and other institutions that have accumulated Russian-language printed materials to join the effort.
The first wave has already shown that the simple act of clearing out a bookshelf can yield tangible results: 110 metric tons of recycled paper, 460,000 hryvnias, and two vehicles for Ukraine’s air defense forces.
The second wave aims to continue this practice and give even more people the opportunity to simultaneously free up space in their homes, send paper for recycling, and support the Ukrainian Defense Forces—specifically, by purchasing drones.
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