As Ukrainian children return to school this week, many face a stark reality shaped by ongoing conflict: a significant shortage of textbooks due to recent Russian strikes targeting the country’s publishing infrastructure. Since the full-scale invasion began, numerous attacks have destroyed publishing houses, printing presses, and book markets, resulting in the loss of over 12 million books.
One notable strike occurred at a printing plant near Kyiv, which was reportedly preparing to deliver 1.3 million copies of textbooks—approximately 10 percent of Ukraine’s national supply. Over the past two months, at least nine publishing firms have been hit, many specialising in educational materials for children.
These attacks signify a shift in Moscow’s targeting strategy toward civilian commercial sites. In addition to publishing facilities, Russian forces have launched strikes against food distribution warehouses, distilleries, postal services, retail stores, and shopping centers. The Kremlin frames these operations as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian e-commerce companies, which Kyiv says support Russia’s military logistics.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has endured sustained bombardment in recent days, with the highest number of air raid alerts since the war’s outset recorded on Thursday. The capital spent nearly 15 hours under attack that day, followed by several more days averaging nearly 12 hours of air raids. Explosions and air defense responses have been a constant presence, forcing residents to seek shelter repeatedly amid the sounds of drone interceptions and impacts.
Casualties from these attacks include a two-year-old child who died from shrapnel wounds in Kyiv’s Obolon district, alongside injuries to a 77-year-old man and a teenager. A 14-year-old girl was also killed in the Boryspil district. Smoke and smog from fires litter the cityscape as residents cope with ongoing disruptions.
Public transportation has been affected, with overground services linking Kyiv’s left and right banks suspended during alerts, causing extended waits in metro stations. Schools have had to suspend lessons frequently to move students to safety, raising concerns among parents about impacts on education amid the intensified hostilities.
According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, the goal of these strikes is to “paralyse Kyiv” by wearing down both air defenses and civilian morale.
A key component of Russia’s recent attacks are jet-powered drones capable of flying three times faster than previous models, which outpace many of Kyiv’s drone interceptors. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that of the 1,500 drones launched between Thursday and Sunday last week, about 800 were jet-powered, with their deployment increasing by at least 67 percent from July to August. These “Shahed-style” drones are reportedly being used directly from production lines.
The Kremlin has vowed to continue with “massive strikes,” particularly targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, while accusing Kyiv of escalating the conflict. President Zelensky has pledged to respond firmly to every Russian attack and has ordered the Ukrainian military to intensify its own drone campaign against Russian territory, aiming to launch 1,000 drones daily.