Since 2014, and with a full-scale invasion since 2022, children in Ukraine have had to grow up listening to the sound of air raid sirens and missile strikes. For countless children in Ukraine, school has moved online and nights are spent in shelters.

The letters you are about to read have been written by children during workshops organised by the Ukrainian charity Voices of Children. The organisation provides psychological and emotional support to children who have been affected by war, allowing them a space to draw, write and speak about their experiences.

The letters are shown as they were written, with their original Ukrainian text appearing alongside the English translations. Some are addressed to public figures, others to God, or to friends.

They are the words of children living through war.

Written in War

Children’s letters from Ukraine

The Letters

Hello, Taylor Swift.

My name is Anya. I am 7 years old. I want to tell you about my life in Ukraine.

For five years now, there has been war in our country. School is online, there are sirens, sometimes explosions. It’s scary!

I really want to live without war!
I dream of quiet nights!
To hug my friends often!

Peace is needed by all of us!

Viktoria, 7 years old

Hi, Stitch!

My name is Vika and I have a cat, Morsik. I recently got a kitten because she started to get bored.

Today I received something, and I want my friends to call me Viktorina.

Right now my mood is so-so because it is very cold outside.

Yesterday I realised that I want my family to stay in a hotel with a big swimming pool. I also want an iPhone for myself because I am still using a Redmi 8. I will give my old phone to Morsik and put cat cartoons on for him. I also want to buy another pillow because Morsik only sleeps on pillows.

Stitch, I wish for you to have your own apartment where you can live in peace.

Dear Saint Nicholas, my name is Veronika.

I am writing to you because I want to share my joys.

Thank you for bringing me the Duke shepherd toy. I love drawing, and my mood is a 10 out of 10 right now.

I dream that all children could be as happy as I am because I have a mom and a dad. I will be a good girl this year too!

And I dream that there will be peace in Ukraine!

Your Majesty, King Charles!

When explosions once again shake our houses at night, it is hard to believe that somewhere in the world children sleep peacefully and think only about school.

I am Maksym, a schoolboy from Ukraine, and for us the war has become part of everyday life. Studying now is very difficult: sometimes we cannot concentrate because of shelling and air-raid alerts.

During the day, lessons are interrupted because we have to go to shelters, and our thoughts suddenly turn not to the textbook, but to the sky. Because of frequent power outages, our home becomes dark, and doing schoolwork becomes a real challenge. When there is no electricity, the warmth disappears too, and home stops being a place where you can feel calm.

At such moments, you especially feel how war takes away a peaceful childhood. Despite fear and fatigue, we try to study and not give up, because we believe that knowledge is our future.

I truly hope the day will come when light and warmth return to our homes, and Ukrainian children will be able to live without fear and darkness.

With respect,
Maksym, a schoolboy from Ukraine.

Your Majesty,

My name is Yaroslav, I am 10 years old, and I live in Ukraine.

I want to tell you how difficult it is right now to be a child in our country. Because of the war, we are often left without electricity; sometimes it is gone for up to 21 hours a day. When there is no power, it is very hard to study and do homework, because at home it is dark and cold. The heating in our building depends on electricity, so the temperature often drops to 8–10 degrees.

In the mornings it is very hard to get ready for school when the apartment is dark and cold, and it is very discouraging — sometimes you even feel like crying.

I am really looking forward to spring, when the sun will shine again and it will feel a little warmer in my soul. I also really want our victory. I want my coach to come back, and for us to train again, to go to competitions and win new victories. But the most important victory right now is for Ukraine to win the war.

With respect,
Yaroslav

Greetings, my dear Universe!
My name is Polina, I am 10 years old, and I live in the city of Mykolaiv.

I don’t go to school in person; I study online whenever there is electricity. I rarely get to talk to my peers, and I’m scared of explosions and feel anxious during air raid sirens.

I have many dreams. My biggest dream is for the war to end, for peace and calm to return, and for our defenders to come home. I also really want to go to school and walk with my friends without fear.

I want every home to have light and warmth, and for no one to die or cry anymore. I want to never hear the sounds of explosions or sirens again and to stop being afraid.

I also dream of traveling and having a happy future. Right now, what brings me joy is reading books, drawing, playing with my cat, and the time I spend at the Voices of Children center.

I truly wish for the world to become kinder, more compassionate, and safer. I sincerely hope for this.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Mr King Charles III.

My name is Nazar. I am nine years old. I live in Ukraine, but I dream of travelling where there is light, because here in Ukraine we rarely have electricity, there is war in our country.

Hip-hop helps calm me down from the war, but I have only just started dancing.

I have a dog. His name is Cairon. I spend my free time with him playing. He will also travel with us when the war ends.

Sleeping without air-raid alerts — that is cool. I love building 3D puzzles. I was given some for my birthday. Would you like me to teach you how to build 3D puzzles? Please do not come here now — it is dangerous. I invite you to Ukraine after the war ends. I will be able to talk with you because I know English!!! I like it very much.

If you can, please help with the war. I dream that it will end and that all people of Cossack descent will be safe.

I really hope that you will read my letter. Have a nice day.

Nazar, 9 years old
Mykolaiv, UA

This is Cairon, he is a Labrador.

Dear Kylian Mbappé!

You are my favourite player. I want you to know what is happening in Ukraine. My name is Tymur, I am 8 years old, and I am from Kharkiv.

Every single day for the past four years, I’ve lived in fear…

Now there is war in our country. It is very scary. We often have to hide from rockets and drones, but I believe that it will all end soon!!!

I dream that peace will come, that all children will be able to sleep calmly at night, go to school, and not be afraid of the sound of explosions. I dream of seeing my dad soon, who is defending our country. My mum says that good always wins, and I believe her! I love training. I go to wrestling classes. When I train, I distract myself. Please, help my country! Let no one cry anymore.

With love,
Tymur

Dear Princess Catherine, hello!

My name is Arina. I am 7 years old.
I live in Ukraine. There is war in my country. It is scary. In my city there are often sirens and explosions.

For safety, we go to shelters.

I want the war to end!
I dream of living in a peaceful and happy Ukraine.
To rejoice in childhood!

Hello, God! I recently moved to Kryvyi Rih and found Voices of Children. I used to live in Kherson, but I moved away, and my friends are still there.

My greatest dream is to return to Kherson and see my friends again.

And also for the war to end,
so that parents do not quarrel,
and I have always wanted for us, at “Voices of Children,”
to make many handmade crafts
and have money :)

Hello!

My name is Yeva.
I love visiting the children’s space “Voices of Children.”
Here we create beauty with our own hands.

Sometimes it is difficult.
There is no electricity and there is a missile threat. We go down to the shelter and create beauty there.

We are not cold, because we are together!!!

Dear Fairy!

We are living in a very difficult time. We have war. Missiles and drones are flying. I want to calmly go to school, to play outside with my friends without air-raid alerts.

I want peace in my dear Ukraine. So that we can have a happy childhood. I want all the defenders to return home alive. I believe that you will hear me and help us.

Yours,
Milana

Mr Beast,
I want to meet you and for you to give me $10,000,000 :)

Lev

Dear God! Stop the war in Ukraine.

Give us peace, health, and so that people no longer have to sit in shelters.
So that we can go normally to school and not be afraid of the sound of sirens.
I want children to have a happy and safe childhood.

With respect,

Yeva