On November 12, 2024, the photo exhibition "Lost Childhood" opened at the European Parliament in Brussels as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative. This exhibition, featuring the work of Ukrainian documentary photographer Roman Pashkovskyi, displays photos of Ukrainian children whose lives have been altered by deportations and forced transfers by Russian forces. Their expressions reveal the pain, loss, and resilience they’ve endured, both during their separation and upon their return to Ukraine.
At the exhibition’s opening, Daria Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and Operations Director of Bring Kids Back UA, noted, “When you look at the photographs taken by Roman Pashkovskyi...you won’t see the carefree gaze of childhood. You see the eyes of children who have been returned home after forced transfer and deportation. These are the eyes of children forced to grow up too soon.”
The exhibition was also opened with remarks from prominent figures, including Pina Picierno, Vice President of the European Parliament, and Lady Helena Kennedy, Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute. They highlighted the need for international cooperation to reunite abducted Ukrainian children with their families and ensure accountability for Russia's actions.