Throughout December 2025, the Donetsk region hosted the event "Warm Embraces for Little Hearts." The initiative of the head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, Vadym Filashkin, brought together communities and military units to give a holiday gift to those whose childhoods had been scarred by war.
Funds from the regional budget were used to purchase and distribute holiday packages containing sweets and symbolic gifts. For the children, these packages were not just gifts, but rays of light that brought them moments of carefree joy and sincere smiles.
The event was dedicated to children who had suffered the most severe losses.
We sought to support:
- Children of fallen heroes: sons and daughters of deceased defenders of Ukraine.
- Children from families of missing persons: whose parents disappeared under special circumstances or are in captivity.
- Children of law enforcement and emergency service personnel: families of police officers (National Police), border guards (11th Border Guard Detachment), and rescuers (State Emergency Service) of Donetsk Oblast who gave their lives defending Ukraine and saving people.
For every child, war is not just a term from the news, but personal pain and emptiness where their parents' embrace used to be. Therefore, the main goal of the campaign was not just to give gifts, but to convey sincere warmth and faith that they are not alone.
Thanks to this event, we were able to warm the hearts of hundreds of children in the Donetsk region and other parts of Ukraine where the war forced these families to relocate. Caring for children who have lost their loved ones is our shared responsibility and an important step toward preserving humanity and the future of our nation.