January 06th, 2026

​A Letter to World Leaders and Religious Leaders

​A Letter to World Leaders and Religious Leaders
Dear world leaders,
dear religious leaders,
I am a child from Ukraine.
I used to live in Mariupol.
War took my leg when a missile hit our city.
In that same attack, I lost my parents.
I am alone now.
Seven of my friends are buried in a cemetery.
They were children like me.
They wanted to play, learn, laugh, and grow up.
I cannot run in the yard anymore.
I cannot play the way I used to.
I cannot swim, because the water is no longer clean or safe after the missiles.
I do not want to live in basements or bomb shelters.
I do not want to learn the sounds of weapons.
I want to go to school without fear.
I want to find new friends outside, not in the dark underground.
I want a childhood.
Not survival.
You talk about power, borders, and strategy.
We children talk about safety, games, and tomorrow.
You have the power to stop wars.
We do not.
I ask you:
How many children must still be injured, lose their parents, or be buried before you stop?
Religious leaders,
you speak about love, mercy, and human dignity.
Where are these values when children suffer in wars?
World leaders,
you hold responsibility and power.
Please use them to protect children.
We are not enemies.
We are children.
Stop wars for our sake.
Give us a chance to live, to play, and to dream in peace.
With hope,
a child from Mariupol