Lyudmila Ulitskaya’s books removed from Moscow libraries over writer’s support for Ukraine

The swift cancellation of one of Russia’s best known writers, Lyudmila Ulitskaya, appeared to have gathered momentum on Thursday when independent media outlet Agentstvo reported that her books were no longer available at libraries in Moscow.

Notorious pro-Kremlin pranksters Vovan and Lexus released a video on Wednesday, in which the pair called Ulitskaya, claiming to be calling from the office of the President of Ukraine. When questioned, Ulitskaya admitted that royalties from her books went “towards Ukraine”.

Later the same day, Ulitskaya’s publishing house suspended all payment of royalties to the author pending the “clarification” of her comments, according to Russian state-owned news agency TASS.

While Ulitskaya’s books were still available in Moscow libraries at 8am on Wednesday, by 9:30am they had reportedly disappeared. Ulitskaya’s name can no longer be found on an alphabetical list of authors, nor do her books appear when searched for.

According to one library staffer, an anonymous order demanding the removal of Ulitskaya’s books was received on Wednesday. Ulitskaya’s books remain available in libraries in St. Petersburg, according to electronic catalogues, however.

The latest victim of Vovan and Lexus, who have previously targeted anti-war writers Boris Akunin and Dmitry Bykov, Ulitskaya has also been stripped of an honorary professorship awarded to her by one of Russia’s most prestigious universities.

Ulitskaya, who left Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and now lives in Germany, has repeatedly condemned the war.