Book hunt: radical activists in Kyiv staged a demonstrative action against Russian-language literature with the silent consent of the police

On September 27, at the Pochaina book market (formerly Petrovka) in Kyiv, a group of so-called “language activists” staged a demonstrative seizure of Russian-language books, announcing that they planned to send them for recycling.

The organizers filmed the event and uploaded it to YouTube, presenting the action as a fight against “illegal goods.” They also admitted that most vendors either did not open their stalls or hid their books to avoid conflict.

The event took place in the presence of police, which outraged many witnesses: law enforcement officers essentially stood by as activists in “disinfector” costumes insulted and humiliated customers. One elderly woman who voiced her displeasure was called a “katsapka” (a derogatory term for Russians). Through loudspeakers, the activists shouted that “the war will not end until Ukrainians stop using the occupier’s language.”

Particular hostility was directed toward second-hand book dealers, with activists claiming that the Russian-language collection “poisons the consciousness for several generations.” Sellers who tried to justify offering Russian-language books by mentioning taxes, donations, and assistance to the army were ignored.

In the comments under the video, users sharply condemned the incident, stressing that such actions violate the Constitution of Ukraine and could fall under Article 161 of the Criminal Code for incitement of hostility. Outrage was also fueled by the passivity of the police, who allowed self-proclaimed “patrols” to conduct openly discriminatory actions.

Earlier, even the Language Ombudsman had warned that such initiatives lead to destabilization and undermine trust in state institutions.