Stolen Voices: Ukraine's Children Under Siege

It was a still morning in a little village. Children were just waking up to go to school. Then, Russia didn’t break Russia’s door, it kicked it down, that of Ukraine. No warning, no reason. Just force.

People everywhere were shocked. But that was just a begining.

Next came the lies. Russia began to tell the kids fake stories, which they named “patriotism”. But they weren’t songs or history of Ukraine. It was as if somebody wiped out the family photos and drew false one’s.

Ukraine didn’t stay quiet. They resisted not with weapons, but with smart moves too. Other countries helped too. It was neighborly type thing where they would gather to fight back.

But, in Ukraine, there was something much worse going on. Children were being brought, deceived, confounded. Just like little birds taken away from their nests. Ukraine spoke out. Loudly. They tried to get those kid’s home one at a time.

For the children that stayed, Ukraine preserved the truth. In schools and where they were safe, they related real stories and sang real songs. For one, this war is not only that of territory. It’s about memory. All about ensuring kids know who they are – and never forget it.