The opening of the jubilee, 20th international children’s art exhibition “Children of War – Niños de la guerra” took place in Paraguay. The event united art, documentary filmmaking, and live testimonies, becoming an important voice for Ukrainian children on the international stage.
The exhibition runs from March 17 to 27, 2026, at the Pedro Agüero Lugo Art Gallery in the municipality of the city of Encarnación and features works by children and teenagers — winners of the International Art Festival “DRAW.UA” and participants of the art marathon “Generation of War.”
The exposition brings together works by children aged 4 to 17 from all over Ukraine — those whose childhood is unfolding amid the sounds of sirens, explosions, and constant danger. These drawings are not just art, but emotional documents of the war.
Each work radiates powerful energy: fear and pain intertwine with hope, light, dignity, and inner strength. This is art that does not embellish reality but speaks the truth. Through colors, symbols, and images, children convey what is often impossible to express in words. Their works do not just tell stories — they make the viewer feel the war through a child’s eyes.
Within the event, a documentary film by Tetiana and Vladyslav Troitski about children who suffered injuries, lost their homes, loved ones, and health, and endured the darkest moments of the war was presented.
At the center of attention are real stories:
— Anna Kovalenko from Kharkiv
— Ilya Matvienko from Mariupol
These are stories of children who, instead of childhood, witnessed death and were forced to live in constant fear.
The project was opened by:
— Yuriy Klymenko — Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to Argentina and the Republic of Paraguay
— Andres Trotsiuk — Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Republic of Paraguay
In his speech, the ambassador emphasized the tragedy of children’s fates, reflected in terrifying figures that can no longer be ignored.
As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
— over 2839 children have been affected
— at least 688 children have been killed
These figures are not just statistics, but thousands of destroyed children’s lives that can never be returned.
Special attention was drawn to the issue of the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories, attempts to deprive them of their identity, home, and future, as well as the efforts being made to bring them back.
Poetry That Speaks with the Voice of Children
The emotional highlight of the event was the presentation of the poem “Niños de Ucrania,” introduced by Teresa Znacovski de Sanchez — a teacher and writer. Her words became an artistic echo of children’s pain and, at the same time, a call to fulfill children’s dreams.
This exposition is more than a cultural event. The “Children of War – Niños de la guerra” exhibition raises one of the most important questions of our time: what does childhood mean today?
For thousands of Ukrainian children, it is a life under the sounds of sirens, studying in shelters, and a constant sense of danger. War changes the reality of their world, destroying the basic sense of safety and peace.
This is a document of the era, created by children’s hands.
The world must see these works.
The world must hear these stories.
Because where war takes away childhood — art becomes a voice that cannot be silenced.
The project was implemented with the support of:
— Association for the Development of International Relations (ADRUM)
— STUDIORAR company
— Ministry of Culture of Ukraine
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
— Embassy of Ukraine in Argentina
— Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in the Republic of Paraguay