Today the National Museum of the History of Ukraine hosted the official opening of the exhibition and book presentation "Living the War: Children during the Russian War Against Ukraine," created as part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Bring Kids Back UA plan. The exhibition, open to the public from June 1 to June 7, aims to draw international attention to the crimes committed against Ukrainian children during the war.
Daria Herasymchuk, the President's Advisor on Children's Rights and Rehabilitation, moderated the event. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the importance of the gathering on the eve of International Children's Day. She stated, "The book features eight stories, eight voices of children who were deported, who lost their parents, who lost their homes, and who spent many months in occupation. They represent those children whose voices we have yet to hear, and perhaps may never hear, about the crimes committed against them. It is crucial that the voices of Ukrainian children are never silenced."
Ukraine's Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, highlighted the unprecedented crimes against Ukrainian children. "This book should be on the desk of every international leader and head of an international organization, to start their workday by reading these stories. They must not forget that what Russia is doing to Ukrainian children today, it could do to children from other countries tomorrow," Kostin noted.
Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets discussed the complexities and scale of Russian abductions of Ukrainian children. "The return of Ukrainian children is rare and always unique because Russia does not want to return them, as it would then admit to abducting them" said Lubinets.
The exhibition and the book not only bring to light the horrific experiences of these children but also emphasize the importance of sharing their stories with the world. During the event, invited guests from embassies, ministry representatives, opinion leaders, and media received copies of the book.
By presenting their voices and personal accounts, the exhibition aims to make the international community aware of the atrocities committed and to mobilize support for the children of Ukraine.