243 children so far killed in war, Zelenskiy says

Ukraine has commemorated the 243 children killed in Russia’s war with a creative display in the western city of Lviv.

The interactive event, titled ‘excursion that will never happen’, used empty school buses and stuffed toys strapped into seats as a symbol of 243 Ukrainian children killed during Russian attacks.

‘Caution! Children!’ signs littering the streets read.

‘Caution! Children!’ signs littering the streets read.
‘Caution! Children!’ signs littering the streets read. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Stuffed toys represent the 243 Ukrainian children killed during Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Stuffed toys represent the 243 Ukrainian children killed during Russian attacks on Ukraine. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
School buses with toys and badges with names on seats are seen in during a symbolic event to honour the 243 children killed in the war.
School buses with toys and badges with names on seats are seen in during a symbolic event to honour the 243 children killed in the war. Photograph: Pavlo Palamarchuk/Reuters
The interactive display was titled ‘excursion that will never happen’.
The interactive display was titled ‘excursion that will never happen’. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Stuffed toys seen strapped on empty buses in the display in the western city of Lviv.
Stuffed toys seen strapped on empty buses in the display in the western city of Lviv. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Zelenskiy made note of International Children’s Day during his nightly video address to the nation on Wednesday, claiming 243 children have been killed, 446 have been wounded and 139 are missing.

Speaking in relation to the 200,000 children believed to have been forcefully taken to Russia, he said:

The purpose of this criminal policy is not just to steal people but to make those who are deported forget about Ukraine and unable to return.

“Ukraine cannot be conquered, that our people will not surrender and our children will not become the property of the occupiers.”

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