"We did not think that children would have to fight for survival in the modern world" — Olena Zelenska

On June 1, International Children's Day, the First Lady tells the stories of children who have lost their families due to a full-scale war.

Olena Zelenska announces this at "A Family for Every Child", the national forum dedicated to International Children's Day.

Olena Zelenska recalls the story of a young boy, Andrii, from the Chernihiv region. During the evacuation, his family's car was run over by a Russian armoured personnel carrier.

The First Lady also tells the story of Vlad from Bucha, whose mother died during the Russian occupation due to a lack of medical care.

"Children should not become internally displaced, neither in their own country nor another. Children should not cry for home, friends, relatives, abandoned things," Zelenska says.

The First Lady says the government is currently working to create various psychological programmes to support children.

"Children should not become orphans and lose their families," the First Lady adds.

She mentions family-type children's homes: "We care about every child having a family instead of a boarding school, and the entire child protection system is being reformed."

Currently, houses are being prepared for families and children who have lost their homes.

"During the months of the full-scale invasion, children have learnt to distinguish explosions and gunfire by their sounds, to do their homework and sleep in bomb shelters. This is not what we wished for our children," the First Lady emphasises.

Photo: Olena Zelenska | Instagram