Hundreds of children’s shoes were placed on the steps of the Manitoba Legislature in a solemn ceremony on Thursday to pay tribute to the children who have lost their lives in Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Oksana Khudyntsia, a Ukrainian mother in attendance, emphasized the need to stay hopeful for an end to the war despite the inability to individually name all the children who have perished.
The stairway leading to the legislature’s entrance in Winnipeg was adorned with 750 pairs of children’s shoes illuminated by artificial candles, serving as a poignant reminder of the youngest victims of the conflict. Mila Shykota, one of the event organizers, expressed the collective pain felt by parents as they reflect on the tragic loss of innocent lives.
The ceremony coincided with World Children’s Day, observed annually on November 20 to commemorate the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Shykota emphasized that the memorial was crafted to ensure that the memories of the children lost to the war are preserved and to highlight the devastating repercussions of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
According to the United Nations, at least 669 children perished in both controlled and occupied territories of Ukraine between February 2022 and December 2024, with many casualties attributed to the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas. The actual number of child fatalities is believed to be significantly higher than the reported figures.
Recent tragic events included the deaths of three children among 26 individuals killed in a Russian drone and missile strike on residential buildings in Ternopil, as reported by Ukraine’s interior minister. Shykota emphasized the importance of recognizing that these statistics represent real lives lost on a daily basis.
A vigil held in Manitoba paid tribute to the Ukrainian children who never returned home, with candles flickering around children’s shoes symbolizing the innocent lives lost since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The event aimed to ensure that the memory of these children is not forgotten.
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