At the Ottawa Art Gallery, a special screening of the documentary After the Rain: Putin's Stolen Children Come Home by director Sarah McCarthy took place — a powerful and deeply emotional film that sheds light on one of the darkest chapters of Russia’s war against Ukraine: the abduction of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation.

The event, organized by the Embassies of the United Kingdom and Estonia in Canada, with the participation of the Embassy of Ukraine, brought together diplomats, Canadian officials, members of the Ukrainian community, and the public to highlight crimes that must never go unpunished.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion with director Sarah McCarthy, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Yuliya Kovaliv, and disinformation expert Marcus Kolga.

“More than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been abducted by the Russian Federation. Russia is trying to erase their identities - to make them forget their homeland, language, and culture. Through the illegal deportation of our children, Russia seeks to steal Ukraine’s future. We are working to bring every child home, and every return is a victory,” – emphasized Ambassador Yuliya Kovaliv.

To support this effort, in February 2024, Ukraine and Canada launched the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children — a global initiative to unite international partners in pressuring Russia and holding those responsible for these crimes accountable.

We extend sincere thanks to the organizers, participants, and all who stood with us that evening. The voice of truth is one of our strongest tools against impunity.

Ukrainian children must come home.