On September 25, 2024, the Stained Glass Gallery of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania hosted the opening of a poignant exhibition titled "The Price of the World’s Silence," dedicated to Ukrainian children who have died at the hands of the Russian aggressor.

"The Price of the World’s Silence" presents just 30 stories out of over 577 Ukrainian children who have been killed, serving as a tribute to the memory of those whose lives were tragically cut short by Russia.

The exhibition, initiated by Vilnius University professor Arūnas Vaičiulis, is held under the patronage of Lithuanian Parliament member Linas Slušnys, with the support of the Ukrainian civic organization Platform of Memory. Memorial. It is not only a means of honoring the memory of the victims but also a powerful tool to draw attention to the issue of children as victims of war.

The event was attended by Vice Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Žygimantas Pavilionis, Head of the Lithuania-Ukraine Inter-Parliamentary Relations Group Rimantė Šalaševičiūtė, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Emanuelis Zingeris, Lithuanian parliament members, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Lithuania Petro Beshta, Vilnius University Vice-Rector Vilma Pakalniškienė, General Director of Platform of Memory. Memorial Gayane Avakyan, and members of the Lithuanian public.

Russia’s aggression and invasion of Ukraine have upended the lives of millions of Ukrainian children, leaving them orphaned, destroying their homes, and stealing their happy childhoods.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, at least 577 children have died, and over 1,500 have been injured to varying degrees. These numbers are not final, as complete information from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine is not available.

Russia is committing genocide against the Ukrainian people by forcibly deporting children from Ukrainian territories to Russia. The whereabouts of these children are concealed; they are taken to remote regions of Russia, where their names, surnames, and citizenship are changed to prevent their return. Currently, there are over 19,000 Ukrainian children known to have been illegally taken to Russia.

"Ukraine’s goal is to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice. This includes not only those directly involved in the transfers but every Russian official who promotes and supports this policy toward our children," emphasized Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania, Petro Beshta.

The exhibition will be open until October 10, 2024.

Photo: Viktoriia Chorna