In Warsaw, on 9 May, activists unfurled an installation of crosses and photographs of Ukrainian children killed as a result of Russian aggression in front of the Russian Embassy. The action was organized by the civic initiative “Euromaidan-Warsaw,” and was joined by dozens of Ukrainians, Poles, and representatives of other countries, UkrInform reports.
The event took place on the same day that Russia traditionally promotes its narrative of the “victory over fascism,” using 9 May as a key element of its political propaganda. The organizers emphasized that the goal was to show the other side of the war and its consequences for Ukraine’s civilian population.
Crosses outside embassy as visual response to Russian 9 May propaganda
“We want to remind the whole world that Russia is a terrorist state waging a genocidal war in Ukraine, committing war crimes, and must be held accountable for this,” said Natalia Panchenko, leader of Euromaidan-Warsaw.
According to the organizers, the installation was meant to highlight the human cost of the war Russia has been waging against Ukraine since 2014, including the full-scale invasion.
Children as the most vulnerable victims of war
Panchenko also referred to the scale of crimes against Ukrainian children. According to the figures cited, more than 700 children have been killed, over 3,000 injured, and more than 20,000 illegally taken from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia.
She stressed that Ukraine demands the return of the deported children and a stronger international response to these crimes. She also noted that the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin in connection with the deportation of children.
The protest installation remained in place outside the Russian Embassy in Warsaw throughout the day as a public reminder of the victims of the war.
