A heartbreaking story from Ukraine has touched the hearts of MEPs and the international public.
Roman Oleksiv, an 11-year-old boy from Lviv, who was severely injured by a Russian missile in 2022, spoke about the loss of his mother during a session at the European Parliament in Brussels.
During his speech, a European Parliament interpreter translating from Ukrainian to English broke into tears and struggled to continue translating. The emotional moment was recorded and widely shared on social media, becoming a symbol of the pain endured by Ukrainian children affected by the war.
Roman recalled that in the attack on the hospital where he was being treated, his mother lost her life, while he himself was critically injured.
“I was in a coma for more than 100 days and have gone through many surgeries since then,” he told the European lawmakers.
His story was presented as part of the screening of a documentary about Ukrainian children who have been victims of the war or kidnapped by Russia.
Oleksiv has since become a symbol of the resilience of Ukrainian childhood, representing both the pain and innocent strength of a generation growing up amid destruction.
Despite his injuries and the loss of his mother, Roman Oleksiv managed to return to his studies, dancing, and music, becoming an example of courage and perseverance for Ukrainian children. He was even honored with an award by the President of Ukraine for his bravery.
On December 10, the 11-year-old arrived in Brussels, where during the screening of the documentary on Ukrainian child victims of the war, he shared his story with MEPs, urging them “never to give up, because when we stand together, we are strong.”
The event featured the films “Romchyk,” “Children for Putin,” and “Chili,” which portray the grim reality of children affected by Russian aggression.
