Children of Heroes’ Artworks Showcased at the National Military Museum of the Netherlands Exhibition

On October 2nd, the National Military Museum of the Netherlands unveiled the poignant exhibition “War Stories. Ukraine up close.” Among the exhibits were compelling works of seven children supported by the Children of Heroes Charity Fund.

The goal of the project is to depict the lives of military personnel and civilians who have been forced to live apart due to the war. The exhibition consists of a series of documentary photographs by military photographer Eddy van Wessel and the “War Diaries: Unheard Voices of Ukrainian Children” exhibit, which allows the world to see the stories of Ukrainian children who have experienced war and lost loved ones. The project not only reminds us of the need to support these children but also urges us not to forget those who continue to live amid war.

“With the exhibition ‘War Stories. Ukraine up close’, and ‘War Diaries’we show the impact of war on the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. We do this through the photographs of Eddy van Wessel and several video portraits of Ukrainians. The images and accompanying texts reveal the sorrow, destruction, and division that war brings. At the same time, they show that the horrors do not ultimately have the final say. The exhibition also radiates hope, resilience, and connection. A connection we in the Netherlands feel with the Ukrainian refugees who sought and found safety in our country, and with those who still live in Ukraine” – Marita Schreur, General Director of Royal Defense Museums.

The exhibition featured the works of seven children supported by the Fund. Five of them had previously been showcased as part of the “War Diaries: Unheard Voices of Ukrainian Children” exhibition and tell the stories of Artem Skrypchenko, Arina Pervunina, Kateryna Kryshkevych, Ivanna Rumiantseva, and Sofia Hromakova. Two new works are presented by Sofia Tkachuk, Roman Romantsov, and his sister Olga-Renata, who, at 12 years old, sells her own handmade patriotic products with all proceeds going to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This event was particularly significant for Sofia Hromakova, who was present at the exhibition and personally presented two of her paintings. For Sofia, as for other children, the opportunity to become part of such an important international project was a unique chance to share her perspective on war with the world and express her feelings through art.

Commenting on the importance of participating in international events, co-founder of the “Children of Heroes” Charity Fund, Valeriya Abdal, noted: “We see that international interest in Ukrainian charitable foundations is gradually waning. But this does not mean that the problems of children who have experienced war have disappeared. They continue to live in constant danger, experiencing terrible pain from the loss of their loved ones. These wounds do not heal quickly, and our Fund will support these children until they reach adulthood. However, without the attention and help of the global community, it is difficult for us to do this. Therefore, we are especially grateful to Khrystyna Hranovska and the National Military Museum team for the opportunity to tell the stories of Ukrainian children to the world.”

The Dutch Minister of Defense, Ruben Brekelmans, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Netherlands, Oleksandr Karasevych, and others attended the grand opening of the exhibition.

The “War Diaries: Unheard Voices of Ukrainian Children” project, initiated by the visionary Khrystyna Hranovska, has previously been presented in several European countries, including the Netherlands, France, and Germany, as well as in the United States.

The exhibition will run until August 31, 2025.