War takes away what is most precious. It shatters lives and destroys homes, but its most horrific, criminal face is revealed when it cuts short children’s lives. The creative challenge ‘A little soul has flown away…’, organised by the Donetsk Regional Educational and Methodological Centre for Culture with the support of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, was dedicated to the memory of children who died as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The event was not only a fitting tribute to the memory of the young Ukrainians whose lives were mercilessly cut short by the war, but also a way to preserve the truth about the crimes committed against Ukrainian children. The organisers sought to unite communities around a shared memory and to remind everyone that behind every tragic statistic lies a child, their smile, their family and a future stolen by the war.
Not a single community in Donetsk Oblast remained on the sidelines of the challenge. Participants sent in videos, poems, artistic compositions and heartfelt messages, filled with pain, grief and remembrance. Each piece became the voice of children whose lives were cut short far too soon, as well as a testament to the resilience of the Ukrainian people. In their creative messages, the people of Donetsk expressed not only sorrow for the innocent victims of war, but also faith in victory, justice and a peaceful future for Ukrainian children.
The works of the challenge participants are available to view on the official Facebook page of the Donetsk Regional Educational and Methodological Centre for Culture under the hashtag #ПамятіЗагиблихДітей