UKRAINE-CRISIS/CHILDRENS DAY Residents of Kiev and Donetsk mark International Children's Day

Record ID: 150473

  • Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/CHILDRENS DAY Residents of Kiev and Donetsk mark International Children's Day
  • Date: 2nd June 2015
  • Summary: CROWD BEHIND BALLOONS IN UKRAINIAN FLAG COLOURS VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PAINTING CHILDREN SLIDING DOWN HILL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSON FROM ROVENKI, LUHANSK REGION, ANNA, SAYING: "Children are very happy at such moments because we cannot afford such a holiday. And they (volunteers) organize it, many thanks to them for this. Let God grant them good health
  • Embargoed: 17th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5XPTEVED2YRLSZ0O3FR8WB04Y
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Ukrainian refugee children from the country's east enjoyed a colourful celebration organised for them by volunteers in Kiev to mark the International Day for Protection of Children. A playground with swings, slides and other attractions for kids of different age was set up in Ukraine's capital Kiev.
    Thousands of Ukrainian families left eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions where fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian military erupted over a year ago. As they were fleeing fighting some crossed into Russia, others headed to Kiev and western Ukraine.
    "Children are very happy at such moments because we cannot afford such a holiday. And they (volunteers) organize it, many thanks to them for this. Let God grant them good health," said Anna, a refugee from Luhansk region, holding her daughter.
    The International Day for Protection of Children is marked in many countries on June 1 and is set to honour children globally.
    "I am a mother of three and I understand indeed what a miracle it is when people want to organize a holiday for children who came from anti-terrorist operation zone, when they want to organize this miracle, to give out presents, sweets, to create a holiday with no specific reason. Children's yard was fixed, all children are happy, are smiling. My children are also running around with presents, cheering, having fun. I think it is the most important," said Viktoriya, who along with her family fled the rebel-controlled Luhansk and is now working as a volunteer in a refugee camp.
    In the rebel-held eastern city of Donetsk where shelling became a part of daily life over the past year, a mourning ceremony was held for children killed in fighting between Kiev and separatist forces. People laid flowers to a monument erected in one of the city's parks.
    "I think the most important thing that we should do is to remember the life that could not develop. We should remember, each of us, and never forgive what's happened. This is also very important," self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Deputy Defence Minister Eduard Basurin told people gathered for a mourning ceremony.
    "We really want all of it to stop. And we want them in Kiev to come to their senses and to understand that we are civilians and our children are innocent as well as our elders. All our people want only peace, nothing else," Donetsk resident Tatyana said.
    Another event to mark the International Children's Day in the rebel-held Donetsk was a symbolic detention of Kiev leaders and military commanders in which people threw their portraits, including those of the President Petro Poroshenko, defence minister Stepan Poltorak and other top officials, into a police van.
    Despite the February truce negotiated in Minsk, the situation remains tense in the east of Ukraine. Kiev fears separatists may try to start another offensive to help cement a long-term hold on eastern districts of Ukraine.
    Russia denies providing any troops or arms to support the rebellion in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 6,100 people, and accuses Kiev of violating the ceasefire.
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