Commemorating 35 years of Ukraine’s independence through a photo exhibition in Jakarta about children whose childhoods were stolen.
JAKARTA, KalderaNews.com – In the bustle of Jakarta on Monday evening, dozens of people stood in silence at World Trade Centre 2. In their hands, keychains jingled softly: a simple, small everyday object that suddenly felt so heavy.
This was the poignant moment when the Embassy of Ukraine in Indonesia held a modest commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine, kept low-key as the nation remains at war, in the Main Lobby of World Trade Centre (WTC) 2 Jakarta on Monday (24/08/2026).
The event was held in conjunction with the opening of a photo and documentation exhibition entitled “Living The War: Children”, initiated by the humanitarian movement BringKidsBackUA in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia.
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This modest reception was attended by diplomats, representatives of friendly nations, and invited guests. Through the exhibition, the public was invited to witness firsthand the stories and real-life experiences of Ukrainian children affected by armed conflict.
Humanitarian Message from the Chargé d’affaires of Ukraine
In her opening remarks, the Chargé d’affaires of Ukraine to Indonesia, Yevhenia Shynkarenko, emphasized the deep meaning of Ukraine’s Independence amid the ongoing challenges faced by the nation.
“For us, independence is much more than a date or political status. It is the right to be ourselves, to speak our own language, to preserve our culture and history, and to choose our own path and future,” said Yevhenia.
Yevhenia Shynkarenko also highlighted the reality of children caught in the conflict. The “Living The War: Children” exhibition depicts a vivid portrait of a generation of Ukrainian children growing up under the shadow of war. Shelters, air raid sirens, and disruptions to their education have become part of their daily lives.
She further drew attention to a global humanitarian crisis, particularly the most painful consequence of the war: the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children away from their families.
Highlighting the “People are Key” initiative, the Ukrainian Embassy invited all guests to support this global campaign to remind the world that people and the preservation of human life must be at the center of any just and lasting peace effort.
As a symbolic gesture, guests were asked to hold up keychains to amplify the call for the return of civilians, prisoners of war, and children to their homes.
She expressed hope that the exhibition would open the eyes of the international community in Jakarta to the importance of humanitarian solidarity and the protection of children’s rights amid global conflicts.
People are Key
A key usually symbolizes safety, returning home, and a door ready to open and welcome family members. But that evening, at the opening of the “Living The War: Children” photo exhibition, those keys served as a reminder of the thousands of Ukrainian children who remain unable to return home to this day.
“For many Ukrainian children, ordinary sounds have quite a different meaning,” stated the Chargé d’affaires of Ukraine to Indonesia, Ms. Yevhenia Shynkarenko, in her speech.
The rumble of thunder is no longer just a sign of rain, but the shadow of falling bombs. The loud bang of fireworks no longer brings festive joy, but echoes of air defense flashes. School is no longer always a quiet place of learning, but a room interrupted at any moment by the blare of air raid sirens.
For Ukraine’s younger generation, war is no longer news on television, but a reality that shapes who they are. The aggression that started in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale war in February 2022 has stolen their childhood. Children born during the war era have never known what it feels like to live in peace.
Tearing Down the Romanticization of Resilience
The “Living The War: Children” exhibition initiated by the BringKidsBackUA movement in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia does not only capture suffering. It also captures images of children continuing to draw, play, and dream amid the onslaught of conflict.
However, Yevhenia emphasized one critical point: this resilience must not be romanticized.
“No child should have to become resilient to war,” she stressed.
Behind the fortitude captured on photo paper lie deep wounds and heartbreaking numbers. More than 20,000 reports document the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children from their families. Although thousands of children have been successfully brought back home, thousands more remain separated under foreign control.
Behind every single statistic is a child, a name, and an anxious family waiting at home.
Every Child Deserves to Grow Up in Peace
Meanwhile, the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, Denis Chaibi, underscored the vital importance of international support for the people and children of Ukraine affected by war. He delivered his opening remarks at the Main Lobby of World Trade Centre (WTC) 2 Jakarta.
Denis Chaibi pointed out the stark contrast between the lives of children in Indonesia and Ukraine. While children in Indonesia interpret a siren as an ambulance or police car passing by, children in Ukraine must run for safety whenever a siren wails.
He explained that four and a half years of war have stolen their childhood and teenage years, replacing them with fear, uncertainty, and sadness. Even so, the exhibition demonstrates the resilience of Ukrainian children who continue to hope and dream despite these hardships.
Denis Chaibi reiterated that behind every photograph on display lies a fundamental message of humanity.
“Every child deserves to grow up in peace. It is as simple as that. That’s why we must continue to stand with the people of Ukraine, support Ukraine, and above all support its children until they can grow up without fear,” said Denis Chaibi.
People are Key: The Right of Children to Grow Up Without Fear
Through the global humanitarian action titled “People are Key”, the Embassy of Ukraine in Jakarta calls on the international community to put human beings back at the center of all peace discussions.
Independence which marks its 35th milestone for Ukraine this year is ultimately not just about borders on a map or formal political documents. Independence is about the right of children to grow up without fear, to choose their own future, and to celebrate tomorrow with their loved ones.
Geopolitical diplomacy can wait and be debated at negotiation tables, but a child’s lost childhood to the terror of war can never be brought back.
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