Ukrainian parents are writing emergency contact details on the bodies of their children to ensure their safety in case they get killed in the war.
Heartbreaking images show mothers and fathers are writing numbers on their kids’ clothes and backs so they can be rescued if they become orphaned during the conflict.
Ukrainian journalist Anastasiia Lapatina shared one such photo on Twitter, adding: ‘Ukrainian mothers are writing their family contacts on the bodies of their children in case they get killed and the child survives. And Europe is still discussing gas.’
The photo showed a little girl called Vira with her date of birth written in pen on her back alongside several numbers.
Vira’s mother, Sasha Makoviy, explained on Instagram that she did this ‘in case something happens, someone would welcome her as a survivor’.
Sasha, from Kyiv, said she signed her daughter’s back on the day that Russia invaded ‘with my hands trembling very much’.
She added: ‘Even a crazy thought flashed through my mind. why didn’t I tattoo her with this information?’
Sasha shared a second photo which showed a card with Vira’s information.
The mother said that although she was currently safe, ‘I still can’t bring myself to put this scrambled paper in the second photo out of my overalls pocket.’
Many parents reacted to the photo with similar heartbreaking stories of the steps they had taken to protect their children.
One person said: ‘On the first day of the war I did the same for my 3-year-old son. And although we are now with him in England, the paper is always with him.’
Another said: ‘I also wrote, wrote and cried for my son (2.5 years old).’
Others said they had stitched paper with emergency contact details into their child’s clothes or created bracelets with contact numbers on them.
On Twitter, one Ukrainian father shared an image of his little girl’s t-shirt with numbers on, writing: ‘My 5 years old daughter wearing this t-shirt while Europe thinking about Russian oil, gas and money.’
German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said yesterday that the European Union should talk about ending Russian gas imports. The country has so far resisted calls to impose an embargo on energy imports from Russia, saying its economy and that of other European countries are too dependent on them.
However, Western leader are facing calls to impose tougher sanctions following evidence of horrific atrocities committed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where hundreds of innocent civilians have been massacred.
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Mutilated dead bodies of civilians have been found lying in the streets or dumped into mass graves.
Some of them have been pictured with their hands tied behind their backs, with evidence of them being raped, tortured and burned. One gruesome image shows a swastika carved across the stomach of a Ukrainian rape victim.
The atrocities only came to light after Russia began withdrawing from the Kyiv region.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of genocide, telling CBS: ‘This is about the elimination of the whole nation and the people.
‘We are the citizens of Ukraine and we don’t want to be subdued to the policy of Russian Federation. This is the reason we are being destroyed and exterminated.’
US President Joe Biden has said Putin must face a war crimes trial and says his administration is helping collect evidence.
Ukraine is calling for a full oil, gas and coal embargo, a ban on Russian vessels and cargos and the disconnection of all Russian banks from SWIFT.
Russia-Ukraine war: Everything you need to know
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, the country has suffered widespread damages and loss of life amid a major bombing campaign.
Millions of people have fled the country, with thousands of British people opening up their homes to Ukrainian refugees.
During the course of the war, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has remained in Kyiv, despite the Ukrainian capital being subjected to a barrage of bombing.
Zelensky has continuously pushed for aid and support from world leaders, as well as pressing for fast-tracked NATO membership.
Meanwhile, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has been widely condemned for his attack on Ukraine.
His actions have been met by harsh economic sanctions, bans from competing in major sporting events, and countries moving away from using Russian oil.
- When did Russia invade Ukraine? A war timeline of important events
- How can I house a Ukrainian refugee or family?
- Where to buy a Ukraine ribbon pin
- When did President Vladimir Putin come to power?
- Who is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky?
- What is Ukraine’s currency, language, and what does its flag symbolise?
- Does Russia have any allies and what have they said about Ukraine?
- What is NATO and which countries are members?
- How to talk to children about what’s happening in Ukraine
- How to cope with World War Three anxiety
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