Day of Remembrance for Children at TNMU

June 4 marks the Day of Remembrance for Children who died as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. As of today, according to official data, the war has claimed the lives of 631 Ukrainian children. This is a horrifying reality, behind which lie shattered dreams, destroyed futures, and unbearable pain.

At the initiative of the Center for Educational Work and Cultural Development at TNMU, students and faculty held an event dedicated to this solemn date. The event was attended by students, teachers, and children. Together, they drew pictures with chalk on the pavement—images of suns, hearts, homes, and symbols of peace. This form of expression—chalk drawings on pavement that are so easy to wash away, erase, or ignore underfoot—became a symbol of the fragility of a child’s life, which can so easily be destroyed.

As a sign of remembrance, soft toys and coloring books were laid out, white balloons rose into the sky, and yellow-and-blue ribbons decorated the space—symbols of hope, love, and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

Every drawing, every toy, every balloon carried both the pure pain and unbreakable hope of a child’s heart. This day is not only about loss—it is also a reminder of our responsibility to remember, to speak out, and to act so that this never happens again.

Participants in the event included medical faculty students: Sofia Kukharchuk and Anna-Maria Zakusylo (second-year students); Karina Tyshko (third-year student); and Yuliia Lutsenko (fifth-year student). From the Faculty of Dentistry, first-year student Stanislav Kopestynskyi joined the event. Also taking part were students of the Ternopil Academic Lyceum Ivan Franko “Ukrainian Gymnasium” and Ternopil Specialized School No. 3.

Special thanks go to Associate Professor Tetiana Hariian from the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery for her assistance in organizing and participating in the event.

We sincerely thank everyone who joined this important initiative. Together, we are the voice of the Ukrainian children who are no longer with us.