Norway hosting over 85,000 Ukrainian refugees, says Ambassador at film screening

Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to India, said: “The film reminds us of the profound impact of the dispute, especially on children, who should never be deprived of peace, safety, and a loving home.” He added that like the story presented by Anastasia, Ukrainian children deserve to celebrate Christmas with their families in a peaceful Ukraine, where joy and warmth replace fear and loss.

As many as 314 Ukrainian children have been coerced by Russia into forced adoption since the war broke out in February 2022, says a new report by Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), released on December 3.

Meanwhile, Kimmo Lähdevirta, Ambassador of Finland to India, said: “The documentary highlights not just the spirit of Christmas but also the resilience, hopes, and dreams of refugees from Ukraine.

Among the first cities to be captured, Mariupol fell at the end of May 2022, just three months after the war started in February. More than 80% of its houses were destroyed and thousands of civilians were killed. It had more than 4.2 lakh inhabitants before the war.

May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway, said, “Anastasia and Ksenia’s journey in the film inspires us as Norway continues to support Ukraine by hosting over 85,000 refugees.”