There are thousands of playgrounds in Ukraine where there is no more laughter and chatter. They stand as an empty and grim reminder that almost 20,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by Russia since the war began.
The installation “Kidnapped by Russia” outside the aggressor state embassy has been installed at the initiative of the Entrepreneurs for Peace foundation. The creative design of the campaign was created free of charge by artists of the advertising agency “McCann Riga”.
Laura Skrodele, director of the Entrepreneurs for Peace foundation, said: “This object is here to remind not only the people of the particular building but also our entire community of the horror and danger that a very large proportion of Ukrainian children still live in.”
Sintija Popena, creative director of the advertising agency McCann Riga, said: “This installation symbolizes the childhood that was taken away from Ukrainian children and the void left behind them. And if we can save even one of the kids, it's already going to be a very big win. ”
At the same time as the art installation, the website “russiaswaronchildren.org” has been launched, describing various specific kidnappings in different languages and methods by which Russian authorities change the documents and identities of kidnapped children, as well as “re-educate” them by teaching them to hate their country and families.
The authors of the social campaign are urging everyone to spread these stories further as far as they can to increase international pressure on Russia and get children back into their families.
