Press Club Brussels Europe on Thursday showcased a Ukrainian documentary titled  Forged by Fear. War through the Eyes of Children, revealing the bloody prism of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict through the eyes of the conflict-affected children on World Children’s Day. 

Addressing the audience before presenting the documentary, Natalia Anoshyna, the Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine to Belgium, said the “devastating invasion” by Russia had claimed the lives of 500 Ukrainian children since the launch of hostilities in February 2022. 

“The latest child victim of the attack was reported last night”, she said, and highlighted the key message of the film to the international community was to “stop this war, this aggression”. 

“We will never concede. Ukraine will win this war”, said the diplomat. Raul Kiria, the Editor-in-Chief of Front News Georgia and Front News Ukraine media, said the documentary had conveyed the messages of the Ukrainian children and their parents who had survived the Russian invasion.  

“The main goal of showcasing the film in Brussels was to bring the messages of the Ukrainian children and their parents, who had survived the war, to the wider world”, Kiria said, noting the documentary would be showcased in other foreign states, including in Georgia. 

The film by Denys Vorobyov, who was involved in the presentation via an online link, had offered its viewers a glimpse into the reality of the Ukrainian children, who are facing Russian aggression on a daily basis in their war-torn country. 

The authors have uncovered their pain, grief, suffering, and struggle to survive, telling the world how Russian invaders are destroying their lands and lives. However, along with these dramatic developments, the film also revealed the infinite faith of the youth - the most innocent Ukrainians - in their strength, their country’s troops, and their ultimate victory.

The interviewees included children aged 4-16 from Kharkiv, Izium, Bakhmut, Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk region), Kostiantynivka (Donetsk region), Bucha, Kyiv, Lyman, Irpin, and Lysychansk, speaking about their daily struggles and fears, with the documentary filmed in Lysychansk, Bakhmut, Dnipro, Irpin, Kyiv, Izium, Pisky, Bucha, and Lyman, with a length of about one hour.