Russian forces destroy 180,000 books, 4 libraries in Mariupol – city council

This is reported by the Mariupol City Council.

"Before the full-scale invasion, the library fund of Mariupol had 360,000 books. According to preliminary information, 50% of the books were burned during the shelling or liquidated as 'extremist'" the statement says. 

Photo: Mariupol City Council

According to the city council, four libraries are destroyed or critically damaged. In the surviving ones, the invading forces bring literature from Russia and change the names.

• Back in February 2023, it was reported that Russians in the temporarily occupied territories were confiscating Ukrainian books from public and school libraries and burning them in boiler rooms.