The memory of the children whose lives were taken by the war has united residents of the Donetsk region across Ukraine. Humanitarian hubs and support centers established for the region’s residents in safe areas joined in honoring the memory of all children who died as a result of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine and held a series of patriotic events for children, youth, and adults.
These events served as a reminder that war brings not only destruction but also irreparable losses—taking away children’s lives, dreams, and happy childhoods. At the same time, they united participants around a shared memory, support, and faith in Ukraine’s future.
Representatives of the hubs/centers, together with residents of the Donetsk region, joined the nationwide campaign “Voices of Children”—hanging bells, paper angels, and doves on the trees of remembrance as a sign of support, remembrance, and hope. The quiet rustle of paper wings became a symbol that every lost child’s name will not be forgotten, and their pure souls will remain in our hearts forever.
The bells symbolize the lost voices of children; the angels embody protection, spirituality, and kindness; the doves symbolize peace, hope, and purity. Each ornament carries a message: a wish for peace, safety, love, and protection for every child in Ukraine. The participants made the symbols themselves and wrote their wishes, poems, and messages to the children on them.
Patriotic and educational events and discussion sessions such as “The Voice of an Angel: We Remember Every Name,” “The Light of Angelic Souls,” “Who Are the Little Angels?,” “Don’t Lose Your Childhood!,” “Children Who Never…,” “The Light of Memory,” “The Stars of Little Angels,” “Oh Children, Innocent Angels,” and “Following a Child’s Dream…” helped foster respect and reverence for the Motherland and its people, a sense of patriotism, and the preservation of historical memory. During the events, words were spoken about the value of childhood and every child’s right to a safe and happy life.
Book exhibitions organized at the hubs—“Children Are Angels, Mother Ukraine Weeps for You,” “Silence in Which Children’s Names Resound,” “Little Hearts of a Great Tragedy,” and “War Through Children’s Eyes: Pain and Hope”—featured works about children, peace, loss, and the strength of the human spirit.
The hubs hosted children’s drawing contests titled “We Were, We Are, We Will Be!”, “Bright Angels of Ukraine,” “Children for a Peaceful Sky,” “I Draw Peace,” and “Childhood Under a Peaceful Sky,” where young participants depicted their dreams of peace, a safe childhood, family warmth, and a happy future in their artwork.
Representatives of the hubs/centers, together with residents of Donetsk Oblast, took part in memorial rallies, joined in laying flowers and toys at memorials and commemorative sites, and observed a moment of silence to honor the memory of the children who lost their lives.
We bow our heads in memory of the children whose lives were taken by the war. We stand up for those who will build our country’s future!