Photo Exhibition “Lost Childhood”

“Lost Childhood” is a documentary photo exhibition dedicated to the children of Ukraine whose childhood has been taken away by war, deportation, and forced displacement. The exhibition is currently presented on the fence of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Luxembourg, as part of the public exhibition programme of the Advocacy Coalition — Defending Our Future Now initiative.

The exhibition features photographs inspired by the work of Ukrainian photographer Roman Pashkovskyi, showing the eyes of children who survived occupation, deportation, and captivity. Their gaze reflects experiences far beyond their years. What should have been a time of play, safety, and growth was replaced by loss, fear, and separation. The images remind us that behind every statistic there is a real child, a real family, and a life changed forever. 

This exhibition is part of the international effort to raise awareness about the illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation, a crime documented by Ukrainian authorities and international organisations. Thousands of children have been taken from their homes, placed in institutions, or subjected to ideological pressure intended to erase their identity. The loss of childhood is not only a personal tragedy, but also an attack on the future of a nation. 

“Lost Childhood” was created within the framework of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, launched to support the return of deported and forcibly displaced Ukrainian children and to inform the international community about this ongoing crime. The exhibition transforms facts and numbers into human stories, making the consequences of the war visible in the most personal way. 

The exhibition was officially opened on March 24 in Luxembourg and will remain on display for approximately two months, after which the panels will be replaced by the next chapter of the year-long outdoor exhibition How to Destroy a Country, presented by the Advocacy Coalition. Each chapter reveals a different aspect of the war against Ukraine and its impact on people, identity, and democratic values.

By bringing these stories into public space, the exhibition invites visitors not only to look, but to understand, to remember, and to take responsibility. Every lost childhood is a warning. Every story is a call to action.