Ukraine: Trauma therapy for returning children

At least 19,546 Ukrainian children were abducted from territories occupied or temporarily occupied by Russia. This constitutes a war crime and is the reason why the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights. The fate of the vast majority of the abducted Ukrainian children remains unknown. However, 1,509 of them have been returned to their homes and families. They report being held in re-education camps, subjected to propaganda, and subjected to violence.

The organization "Girls" helps rescued children process traumatic experiences, regain trust in others, and find new courage. Art therapy is an important tool in this process, allowing the children to express themselves and their feelings. " During our sessions, the children can draw what they've experienced or simply talk about it ," reports Tetiana Khodakivska, who coordinates the project . " Some of the children have never spoken about their experiences before but are willing to draw them. Whichever medium they choose, the golden rule is: we follow the children's lead. If they have questions, they can ask them. If they don't want to continue, we stop at any time."

The cases of 72 children from the Kharkiv and Kherson regions are being documented, and their testimonies will be submitted to the International Criminal Court as evidence. "We spoke with lawyers about how to talk to children so that their statements can be used as legal evidence," explains Tetiana Khodakivska. "These children are witnesses to Russian war crimes: abduction, mental torture, sexual abuse, and denial of medical care in the camps. That's why Russia won't let them leave."

Tetiana Khodakivska is not only a project coordinator but also a film director. Several children and their parents have allowed her to record them painting and talking. The videos will not only be made available to the International Criminal Court, but excerpts will also be released to the public: The title for the documentary, which will be released in cinemas in 2026, has already been chosen: "The Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole".