A public event in memory of children victims of the war in Donbass was held in Nicosia.

On July 27, 2025, a mourning event was held in Nicosia, dedicated to the “Day of Remembrance of the Children” who died as a result of the war in Donbass. This date, established in 2022, has become a symbol of international grief for fallen youth and a reminder that childhood should not end with an explosion.

Representatives of the Russian and Cypriot communities, compatriots, volunteers, teachers, children and youth gathered at the building of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in the capital of Cyprus. People brought toys, flowers, candles — symbols of the memory of those whose lives were cut short too soon. Candles were lit and a minute of silence passed. Then white balloons and paper cranes soared into the sky. These are as a symbol of souls who have left the earth, but did not disappear from our memory.

Speeches were made by:

Dmitry Apraksin, Chairman of the CSRC in Cyprus, who said:

“Today we are not just remembering names, we are remembering the light that was and has not gone out. A light that has become a victim of hate. We have no right to remain silent. Our voice is the voice of conscience, and it should be heard in the most remote corners of the world. Children’s life has no nationality. Every little death is a common tragedy of humanity.”

• A local Cypriot, expressed solidarity with the people of Donbass and stressed that peace begins with compassion, historical memory and truth. He told the crowd:

“On behalf of the International Movement of Russophiles, the Cyprus–Russia Friendship Society and the Cyprus Association of Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities, we express our disgust for such deliberate and unacceptable actions of the Ukrainian regime and its Nazi army against civilians and young children. They are the initiators and perpetrators of these murders of children in Donbass, which began in the spring of 2014 and continued for eight years. Russia has been screaming all this time! I asked you to stop this ugly hatred against the Russian-speaking residents of Donbass! I appealed to International organizations, Western governments and the European guarantors of the Minsk Agreements!… We also condemn all the systemic Western media, which hid from the whole world the truth about everything that happened in Donbass for eight years. About 14,000 people have died in eight years. They all woke up on February 24, 2022, when Russia ran out of patience and had no other way. Russia was forced to start its own. And then everyone rushed against her! She suddenly became an aggressor and a violator of international law.”

The creative part of the event combined poetry and personal confessions. The poems, imbued with pain and hope, sounded with special trepidation.:

• There was a reading of the author’s works “Angels of Donbass” and “Kursk Boy”. The spoken lines addressed the memory and conscience of everyone.
• There was a presentation of the poem “Alley of Angels” by Snezhana Egorova and her own poem “Kursk”.
• There was a performance of the poem “What are you Fighting for, Brother?” by Tatiana Rodenkova. It is an emotional monologue of pain and bewilderment.
• There was a reading of another poem by Snezhana Egorova, which recalled the tragedy that passed through the children’s lives.

Activists and concerned citizens also took the floor, many shared personal stories and words of support. The atmosphere of the event became a space of unity, sorrow and deep inner silence.

We shall never forget

A special place in the composition was occupied by a memorial stand dedicated to Kolenka (Nikolai) Nikitenko. He was a boy from Uglegorsk who died in March 2015 due to the conflict. His story was one of hundreds, and every name, every glance from black—and-white photographs reminded him that war is always a tragedy for the most innocent.

May the souls of the dead children find peace, and may their memory be a force capable of changing the world.

We remember. We mourn. Let us never forget.