Russia is no longer hiding its censorship but openly showcasing it: books are now appearing with “blackouts”—the physical striking out of text fragments. This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (https://szru.gov.ua/news-media/news/chorni-ryadky-zamist-tekstu-shcho-stalosya-z-knyzhkamy-na-rosii). Since the start of the full-scale invasion, censorship in the Russian book industry has become systemic, fundamentally altering both the market and the nature of literature as a cultural product.
While state interference previously involved selective bans or pressure on specific authors, it has now evolved into a massive control infrastructure spanning from manuscripts to retail shelves. The “blackout” has become a visual symbol of this reality. Readers no longer receive a complete work; instead, they are presented with fragmented texts where critical thought has been physically erased.
The trigger for this crackdown is the radical tightening of legislation. Any mention of the war, criticism of Russian aggression, LGBTQ+ themes, emigration, or decolonial discourse is strictly prohibited. Even global classics are subject to “purification” through manipulated translations or new, sanitized editions.
Some Russian publishers have even integrated artificial intelligence to detect “undesirable content.” These algorithms frequently flag normal phrases as dangerous, leading to absurd results. Ultimately, however, the final decision rests with editors and legal teams working under the constant threat of fines or imprisonment. This environment forces self-censorship, making the entire industry a tool for ideological indoctrination.
Historically, the “blackout” technique was used in art as a form of protest or reinterpretation. In modern Russia, it serves the opposite purpose: concealment. By forcing readers to accept fragmented pages, the Kremlin aims to normalize the absence of information. The black lines are becoming a mundane part of the “rules of the game,” turning books from sources of knowledge into objects of state propaganda.
The Kremlin seemingly ignores the fact that in the digital age, readers can easily find original texts elsewhere. However, the objective is not necessarily to hide the truth, but to demonstrate power over the medium of language itself. By controlling the printed word, the regime reinforces its dominance, proving that even a blank space on a page can be a political statement of fear. Ultimately, this approach signals the decay of the Russian intellectual space, which is being systematically dismantled to suit the current war-mongering narrative.