War does not affect only front lines, infrastructure, or the economy. It also reaches culture, education, and people’s ability to preserve meaning and continuity in everyday life. In Ukraine, books and libraries have taken on an exceptional importance under wartime conditions.
Russia’s war of aggression has damaged libraries across the country. Some have suffered direct destruction from shelling, others have endured occupation, while many have lost collections, facilities, or staff. Despite this, numerous libraries have continued to operate—often with very limited resources—offering children and adults not only access to books, but also a sense of stability in an environment defined by constant uncertainty.
In the Makaryiv area near Kyiv, this work has received concrete support. New children’s books have been delivered to libraries affected by occupation and active fighting. Donations have reached the central library of Makaryiv municipality as well as 28 local branch libraries. Additional deliveries have gone to municipal libraries in Baryshivka, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and other regions of Ukraine.
In total, the initiative reached 9 municipalities, 135 library branches, and 2,399 books. The figures illustrate the scale of the effort.
The role of libraries is particularly significant for children. For those growing up amid war, access to books cannot be taken for granted. A book offers a chance to learn, to calm down, and to step away—if only briefly—from the constant presence of threat. It also supports schooling in conditions where education is often remote and fragmented due to air raids, power outages, and unstable internet connections.
In Ukraine, the importance of books and culture during wartime is often expressed in simple terms: Ukraine endures and prevails as long as its culture survives and continues to live. Moral values must be understood and acted upon. Books and literature are a source of this light and one of the most important means of sustaining and developing culture. For this reason, cultural heritage must be respected and protected—even under the most difficult circumstances.
The books delivered to libraries in the Makaryiv area are part of this broader context. They are not merely donations, but a statement that culture, reading, and education belong in everyday life even during war. Each book placed on a library shelf can reach dozens of children and leave an impact that extends far into the future.
Publisher background
The books were provided by G&G, a publishing house with roots in Austria. The company is a subsidiary of an Austrian publisher and traces its heritage to the Hoelder-Pichler-Tempsky family publishing tradition, one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1690.
G&G began operating in Ukraine in 2009 as a literary agency and has held publishing rights since 2011. Its first Ukrainian publications were translations of works by Austrian children’s literature classic Mira Lobe, including What Is True Friendship and All Aboard.
Today, the publisher specializes in children’s and young adult fiction, educational materials, and contemporary Ukrainian children’s literature. The company is led by Viktoriia Kadenko.