Ultra.Kultura
Ultra.Kultura was a Russian counterculture book publisher known for politically and socially provocative fiction, nonfiction, and translated works.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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History
Ultra.Kultura was founded in Russia in 2003 by Ilya Kormiltsev, who also became its editor-in-chief. The imprint emerged as a counterculture publisher rather than as a conventional mass-market house. Its catalogue covered fiction, translated literature, political and social commentary, and books dealing with contentious subjects such as drugs, terrorism, extremism, and the relationship between technology and culture. The publisher used several series to organize its programme. Overdrive was associated with radical fiction, while Ultra.Fiction provided a broader fiction line. Russkiy Drive focused on younger Russian authors. The Non-fiction series addressed acute social issues, including terrorism and drugs. Cybertime covered information technology. ЖЗЛ presented books about important figures in counterculture, and Klassenkampf carried opinion journalism. Together, these lines positioned Ultra.Kultura as a platform for material outside conventional cultural and political consensus. The imprint was also known for publishing controversial authors and texts linked to both far-left and far-right currents. Among its authors was Eduard Limonov, leader of the National Bolshevik Party, whose essays Ultra.Kultura published while he was imprisoned. This editorial policy increased the publisher's visibility but also exposed it to political and regulatory pressure. In 2004, Russian authorities accused Ultra.Kultura of propaganda relating to drug use and terrorism. The most consequential documented intervention occurred in 2006. Following the publication of a Russian volume that brought together translations of Adam Parfrey's Apocalypse Culture and Apocalypse Culture II, the book was prohibited by Kremlin decree on the grounds that it constituted drug propaganda. Authorities ordered the destruction of unsold copies. The episode connected Ultra.Kultura with broader questions about freedom of the press and the treatment of controversial literature in Russia. Kormiltsev remained the central editorial figure from the publisher's creation until his death in 2007. The supplied sources do not establish a later leadership structure, ownership arrangement, financial performance, or definitive closure date. They also do not provide enough evidence to determine whether the publisher's website or imprint continued operating after the period documented above. Ultra.Kultura's current status is therefore left unknown.
- 2007
Death of founder and editor-in-chief
[1]Ilya Kormiltsev dies after leading the imprint's editorial work from its founding.
- 2006
Apocalypse Culture volume is banned
[1]The Russian edition combining Apocalypse Culture and Apocalypse Culture II is prohibited by Kremlin decree, and unsold copies are ordered destroyed.
- 2004
Official accusations over published material
[1]Russian authorities accuse Ultra.Kultura of propaganda of drug use and terrorism.
- 2003
Ultra.Kultura is founded
[1]Ilya Kormiltsev establishes the Russian counterculture publishing house and becomes its editor-in-chief.
Products and positioning
A Russian counterculture publisher focused on radical fiction, socially acute nonfiction, controversial political and cultural subjects, and works connected with the margins of mainstream literary culture.
Book series
Overdrive
A series devoted to radical fiction and literature positioned outside conventional mainstream publishing.
Book series
Russkiy Drive
A series presenting books by young Russian authors and serving as a channel for emerging domestic literary voices.
Book series
Non-fiction
A nonfiction line focused on acute social and political issues, including terrorism and drug-related subjects.
Book series
Cybertime
A series centered on information technology and related questions about digital culture and society.
Book series
ЖЗЛ
A series about leading figures of the counterculture, using biographical and cultural approaches to examine influential personalities.
Book series
Klassenkampf
An opinion-journalism series for argumentative and politically engaged writing.
Book series
Ultra.Fiction
A fiction series forming part of Ultra.Kultura's broader literary catalogue.
Translated book · 2006
Культура времен Апокалипсиса
A Russian-language volume combining translations of Adam Parfrey's Apocalypse Culture and Apocalypse Culture II. Its publication became the focus of a 2006 ban and an order to destroy unsold copies.
Controversies
2006
Ban and destruction order involving Apocalypse Culture translations
A volume combining Russian translations of Apocalypse Culture and Apocalypse Culture II was banned by Kremlin decree as drug propaganda, with unsold copies ordered destroyed.
2004
Official accusations of drug and terrorism propaganda
Russian authorities accused Ultra.Kultura of promoting drug use and terrorism through its publishing programme.
Brand decisions
2006
Authorities prohibit Культура времен АпокалипсисаOtherBackground
Ultra.Kultura published a Russian volume combining Adam Parfrey's Apocalypse Culture and Apocalypse Culture II. Authorities treated the publication as drug propaganda.
Action taken
A Kremlin decree banned the volume and ordered the destruction of unsold copies.
Aftermath
The action became the publisher's most prominent documented censorship case and linked its history to debates over freedom of the press in Russia.
Recent events
- 2007
Ilya Kormiltsev dies after leading Ultra.Kultura's editorial programme[1]
Leadership change
Ilya Kormiltsev, who founded Ultra.Kultura and served as its editor-in-chief, died in 2007.
Sources2 sources
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