Art for Freedom: Unseen Civilians Presented at the XIII Forum for Civil Society Development in Kyiv

On December 5, at the XIII Forum for Civil Society Development “(We)STAND” in Kyiv, the graphic art exhibition “Art for Freedom: Unseen Civilians” was presented to over 3,000 attendees, including representatives of government bodies, non-governmental organizations, donors, Ukrainian and international media.

The exhibition highlights the stories of Ukrainian and foreign civilians unlawfully detained by Russia, using art to raise global awareness and advocate for justice.

During a panel discussion on international advocacy, PR Army advocacy manager Khrystyna Shkudor shared how art and media can amplify the voices of those unjustly imprisoned and draw the attention of the global community to their plight.

Khrystyna also addressed the stolen childhood of Ukrainian children living under occupation or deportation. She explained how Russia systematically commits war crimes in temporarily occupied territories, including the deliberate militarization of children. Many of these children, forcibly taken to Russia or Belarus, are subjected to policies aimed at erasing their Ukrainian identity and assimilating them into Russian society.

The discussion shed light on how these actions are part of Russia’s strategy to solve its demographic crisis by preparing a future "mobilization reserve" for its military and perpetuating its war against Ukraine.

The event provided a crucial platform for raising awareness and mobilizing support for ongoing advocacy efforts to protect Ukrainian civilians and children affected by Russia’s war of aggression.