“Mural of Remembrance”: A patriotic tribute to kidnapped Ukrainian children surfaces in Odesa

On the wall of one of Odesa's beach spots, Ukrainian artist Andriy Yermolenko has unveiled a mural depicting a girl behind barbed wire — a poignant symbol of abducted and forcibly deported Ukrainian children. Her gaze is direct and deeply emotional, filled with pain, loss, and longing. Above her heart is a red map of Ukraine, signifying that her homeland lives on within her soul, despite attempts to erase her identity.

The girl is adorned with a wreath of blue and yellow flowers, representing not only Ukraine but also hope. Beside her, perched on the barbed wire, is a titmouse — a bird symbolizing home and peace, as if to remind us that Ukraine is waiting for its children to return.

This mural marks the first tribute to affected Ukrainian children, following a similar work created by the artist in Lviv.