On June 13, the solemn opening of the "Bring Kids Back UA" photo exhibition, dedicated to children who have suffered due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, took place in Brussels, right in the European Commission building. The event gathered high-ranking EU representatives, Ukrainian officials, and media.
The opening featured speeches by Dubravka Šuica, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Andriy Kostin, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, and Daria Zarivna, the Senior Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and Executive Director of the "Bring Kids Back UA" program. All speakers focused on the critical situation of Ukrainian children and the necessity of international support for their protection and return.
In his speech, Andriy Kostin emphasized that "Russians use the deportation of children as a weapon of war, aiming to cause even more pain for Ukrainian society, families, and the children themselves. We believe the widespread and systematic deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children amounts to a crime against humanity, falling under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court."
The exhibition consisted of three thematic sections: Joy, Loss, and Deportation, each representing different aspects of the children's experiences during the conflict. "This exhibition is also a call to the international community. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 'Bring Kids Back UA' initiative focuses on rescuing our children, reintegrating them into society, and ensuring their well-being. But we can't do this alone. We need support, including from the EU," Daria Zarivna urged during the exhibition's opening.
The event is a continuation of the "Living the War" exhibition held in Kyiv, which was dedicated to protecting Ukrainian children.