Cardiff Bay witnessed a moving display of solidarity on International Children’s Day as the local Ukrainian community and supporters gathered near the Roald Dahl monument to create a poignant memorial for Ukraine’s missing children. Despite facing extremely windy conditions, participants persevered to build a mountain of donated soft toys, each representing the thousands of Ukrainian children who have been forcibly separated from their families.
The memorial serves as a stark reminder of one of the war’s most heartbreaking consequences: nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. These children have been transported to Russia, where they are being forced to learn Russian language and culture in what constitutes a clear act of ethnic cleansing.
Families and children from the local community participated in the event, with volunteers carefully arranging hundreds of donated teddy bears, dolls, and other soft toys into a colorful mountain that stood in sharp contrast to the grey skies above Cardiff Bay. The Ukrainian flag flew prominently above the display, its blue and yellow colors a symbol of hope and resistance.
The choice of International Children’s Day for this memorial was deliberate, highlighting the international community’s responsibility to protect children’s rights and remember those whose childhoods have been stolen by war. The location near the Roald Dahl monument added additional significance, as the beloved children’s author’s legacy celebrates imagination, childhood, and storytelling—precisely what has been taken from Ukraine’s abducted children.
A chalkboard sign at the memorial read “Cardiff remembers the missing children of Ukraine,” making clear the message that the people of Cardiff and South Wales will not forget these children or the broader tragedy of civilian casualties in Ukraine. The display represented the community’s unwavering support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression.
The event was made possible through the generosity of local residents who donated hundreds of soft toys specifically for this memorial. Organizers expressed their gratitude to everyone who contributed, noting that each toy represented not just a donation, but a symbol of remembrance and solidarity.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, with strong winds threatening to disrupt the carefully arranged display, participants remained determined to complete their tribute. The resilience shown in the face of these natural elements seemed to mirror the broader resilience of the Ukrainian people themselves.
This grassroots memorial demonstrates how local communities across Wales continue to find meaningful ways to show support for Ukraine, ensuring that the plight of the country’s most vulnerable victims—its children—remains visible and remembered. The soft toy mountain served as both a memorial to the missing and a powerful statement that Cardiff stands firmly with Ukraine against the ongoing Russian invasion.
The event reinforces the international community’s position that the forced deportation and cultural assimilation of Ukrainian children constitutes a serious violation of international law and children’s rights, demanding continued attention and action from the global community.
