A new Ukrainian cultural project is being launched worldwide — a documentary exhibition entitled ‘Words in Flames,’ which tells the story of libraries and publishing houses during a full-scale war. It was created by the Artists Support Ukraine foundation in collaboration with the Library Country charitable foundation to record and convey the truth about the systematic destruction of Ukrainian cultural institutions.
The exhibition features 83 photographs documenting the destruction, burning and looting of libraries from frontline villages to large cities. These images show not only physical losses, but also an attempt to erase cultural memory and Ukrainian identity. According to official data, as of July 2025, 214 libraries have been destroyed, 904 damaged, and hundreds have lost their equipment and collections. At the same time, 211 libraries have already partially resumed their work thanks to the efforts of communities and volunteers.
The exhibition is ready-to-print, allowing it to be easily displayed anywhere: in embassies, cultural centres, public spaces or universities. It is available in Ukrainian and English, and the materials are provided free of charge. The organisers are calling on international institutions to join the exhibitions in order to spread the truth about the war against Ukrainian culture and collect charitable donations for the affected libraries.
Words in Flames is the fourth large-scale project by the Artists Support Ukraine team. Over the past three and a half years, the platform has held 42 exhibitions in 20 countries around the world and continues to document visual evidence of the war through art. The copyright for the works presented remains with the authors, and anyone interested can purchase them by contacting the organisers.
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