Yakaboo
Yakaboo is one of Ukraine's largest book platforms, offering books in 71 languages in paper, electronic and audio formats.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
Yakaboo (yakaboo.ua) is a Ukrainian online bookstore and national book platform, founded in 2004. It began as a company renting and selling licensed DVD and CD discs with home delivery in Kyiv, and in 2009 pivoted to selling books through an online store. Today it describes itself as a national book platform offering more than 300,000 titles in 71 languages across paper, electronic and audio formats, serving over 3 million customers and cooperating with more than 500 Ukrainian and foreign publishers. Beyond retail, Yakaboo has built an ecosystem that includes its own publishing house, Yakaboo Publishing, founded in 2016 with independent publisher Oksana Forostyna, initially specializing in Ukrainian and translated non-fiction and later adding fiction. The company opened its first physical bookstore in 2019 in the building of Kyiv's main post office, launched a B2B distribution channel in 2018, and introduced a mobile app for reading and listening in 2021. By the end of 2024 the app offered 75,000 editions from 150 publishers and authors, including free sections such as the UNICEF-supported 'Spilnoteka', the 'Cafe-bookstore' with recommendations from cultural figures, the 'Library for Heroes' for military personnel, and corporate libraries for 34 Ukrainian companies. Yakaboo positions itself around a mission to make Ukraine the most reading country in Europe, supporting Ukrainian publishers and authors. It has received several awards, including E-Awards 2018 for Best Book Online Store and the 2020 Ukrainian People's Award as Online Bookstore of the Year. The company has also faced controversy, including a boycott (#бойкотYakaboo) over its distribution of Russian publisher Alpina Publisher, which it ended in February 2022 by announcing the termination of cooperation with Russian companies and publishers. Its CEO Ivan Bohdan resigned after a sexist remark about the store's target audience. Yakaboo is privately held; its director is Yevhen Volovychenko.
History
Yakaboo was founded in 2004 as a company renting and selling licensed DVD and CD discs with home delivery in Kyiv. In 2009, it pivoted to selling books, launching an online store. In 2016, the company founded Yakaboo Publishing together with independent publisher Oksana Forostyna; for several years the publishing house specialized in Ukrainian and translated non-fiction, and from the beginning of 2023 it added fiction by Ukrainian and world writers. In 2018, Yakaboo launched its own B2B distribution channel. In 2019, it opened a physical store in the building of Kyiv's main post office. On 14 December 2020, Yakaboo and the Cyber Police Department signed a memorandum on cooperation in countering piracy and the distribution of counterfeit literature. In June 2021, Yakaboo and Visa presented a mobile app at the X Book Arsenal, through which Visa customers gained access to the 'Visa Library' catalogue of 300 e-books and audiobooks. In 2021, a mobile app for reading and listening to books was created. By the end of 2024, the Yakaboo mobile app offered 75,000 editions from 150 publishers and authors, with some books free, including special sections: 'Spilnoteka' from UNICEF, 'Cafe-bookstore' with recommendations from cultural figures, 'Library for Heroes' for military personnel (by special code), and training seminars from the Association of ATO Veteran Entrepreneurs. The app also hosts corporate libraries of 34 Ukrainian companies. The company has faced criticism. Since November 2019, it was the official distributor of Russian publisher Alpina Publisher, which prints books at the Kharkiv printing house Factor-Druk. In response to a complaint by Valeriy Markus, the company stated it operates within Ukrainian law. Due to its loyal attitude to Russian business during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Markus initiated a boycott — #бойкотYakaboo. On 5 December 2019, publisher 'Moya Knyzhkova Polytsia' stopped cooperation with Yakaboo; in 2020 the AMCU recommended the publisher refrain from spreading such information that could harm the company's reputation; in 2024 the publisher resumed cooperation. On 17 January 2020, publisher 'Nash Format' stopped cooperation; in 2024 it resumed. On 28 February 2022, the company announced termination of cooperation with Russian companies and publishers. During a meeting 'Ukrainian book: after the war, away from Moscow', CEO Ivan Bohdan called his store's target audience 'women who spend men's money'. The CEO resigned after his sexist remark caused outrage. On the civic front, in June 2020 the social project 'Library for Heroes' was created to establish mini-libraries in military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with books about the Russian war against Ukraine, historical and fiction literature, and books for self-development and leisure. On 25 June 2020, the first 400 books were given to servicemen of the 56th Motorized Infantry Mariupol Brigade and the 503rd Separate Marine Battalion. By the end of 2024, 'Library for Heroes' had over 700 electronic and audio editions, and over 25,000 access codes were distributed to partner NGOs and directly to combat units. In May 2021, the social project 'Ya_читаю' started. In October 2021, the company joined Olena Zelenska's initiative 'Without Barriers'. On 1 March 2022, free access to books and audiobooks in the mobile app was opened for Ukrainians. In October 2022, the company became a partner of the printed version of the 'Barrier-Free Handbook' created on the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska. From the beginning of 2023, the company cooperates with NGO DoLadu, which rehabilitates military personnel; psychologists of the NGO formed sets of one hundred books and delivered them to medical institutions. Yakaboo provided rehabilitation camps organized by Do Ladu during 2023–2024 with books and access codes to the electronic 'Library for Heroes'. In 2023, almost 200 books were transferred to libraries in Chernihiv, which suffered from hostilities. Over 300 books were given to create a library in the UNICEF 'Spilno' children's space at Kyiv's central railway station. In early 2023, Yakaboo joined the 'Book to the Front' campaign implemented by Cultural Landing with support from the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine; monthly the platform sends books bought by Ukrainians within this project — on the website and in the physical Yakaboo bookstore — and provides access codes to the free electronic 'Library for Heroes'. Leadership: Director — Yevhen Volovychenko. Awards: 2006 — The Ukrainian Observer diploma for 'Best Service'; 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 — best online store of the year, InternetUa&Awards; 2015 — national record registered for 'largest number of books sold in an online store in two days: 2,093 copies of the book "How to Spend a Million You Don't Have" by Garik Korogodsky'; 2016 — second place in 'Best Online Store' nomination of PaySpace Magazine Awards; 2018 — winner of E-Awards 2018: customer choice in 'Best Book Online Store'; 2020 — Ukrainian People's Award in 'Online Bookstore of the Year'.
- 2023
Yakaboo Publishing began adding fiction by Ukrainian and world writers.
- 2022
Announced termination of cooperation with Russian companies and publishers.
- 2022
Opened free access to books and audiobooks in the mobile app for Ukrainians.
- 2021
Presented updated Yakaboo brand, transforming into a book platform.
- 2021
Created mobile app for reading and listening to books.
- 2020
Received Ukrainian People's Award in the nomination 'Online Bookstore of the Year'.
- 2020
Launched social project 'Library for Heroes' and signed memorandum with Cyber Police Department.
- 2019
Opened first physical bookstore in the building of Kyiv's main post office.
- 2018
Launched its own B2B distribution channel.
- 2018
Won E-Awards 2018 in the nomination 'Best Book Online Store'.
Products and positioning
National book platform and largest online bookstore in Ukraine, aiming to make Ukraine the most reading country in Europe.
Paper books
Electronic books
Audiobooks
Gift certificates
Related goods
Games and creative items
Mobile app for reading and listening
Yakaboo Publishing books
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Yakaboo opens its first physical bookstore[5]
Reported:
Yakaboo opened its first bricks-and-mortar bookstore in the Main Post Office building at 22 Khreschatyk Street in Kyiv. The store also handles orders from Yakaboo's website.
Sources5 sources
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