Heartbreaking story behind writing on Ukrainian toddler's back
A Ukrainian mother has revealed the heartbreaking move she made to ensure her daughter's safety as Russia violently invaded the country.
Taking to Instagram, the woman shared a picture of her daughter, Vira, that was taken on the first day of the war.
In the photo, Vira's back is covered in writing, including her name, what appears to be her date of birth and contact details for family members.
The mother explained that her hands trembled as she wrote the message on her young daughter's back.
"You already know what it's like to wake up to the deafening and powerful sounds of explosions that can be heard for tens of kilometres," the mother wrote on Instagram.
"I was shaking for the first hours like you."
The mother wrote the message on her daughter's back out of fear something would happen and Vira would be alone, a sole survivor.
The information was for someone if they were to pick Vira up, or if she got lost.
"It hurts to go to the photo gallery," the mother admitted on Instagram, saying she and her family had "such a wonderful life" before the war.
She also shared a picture of what appears to be a piece of paper with more detailed information — which the mother said remains in her overall pockets.
Fortunately, the family are now safe.
The images went viral on Twitter after they were shared by Ukrainian journalist, Anastasiia Lapatina.
Many parents were moved and upset by the photos.
"As a mother, I simply can't imagine doing this. It's heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking," one mother wrote.
As a mother I simply can't imagine doing this.
It's heartbreaking.
Absolutely heartbreaking. https://t.co/4i4zV0n5Qu— Tash Pow (@peekaboo_jen) April 5, 2022
"Imagine trying to write family contact details on the body of your child in case you die and your child survives. Beyond any comprehension the strength it must take to do this," another person said.
It appears the family is from Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, however it is not known where they are now.
Kyiv was recently seized back by Ukraine, a significant win amid the Russian invasion.
However, since the city was recaptured, the world was horrified to learn that civilians from Bucha, a town near the capital, were brutally murdered and placed in mass graves.
Taras Shapravskyi, deputy mayor of Bucha, said 50 of some 300 bodies were found after Kremlin forces withdrew late last week.
The bodies were the victims of extrajudicial killings carried out by Russian troops.
Moscow has denied any accusations related to the killing of civilians in Bucha.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said since becoming aware of the scale of atrocities carried out by Russian troops in Bucha, it will be hard for Ukraine to negotiate with Russia.
"These are war crimes and will be recognised by the world as genocide," Mr Zelensky said while in Bucha.
He said Ukraine is now aware that "thousands" of people were killed and tortured, "with severed limbs, raped women and murdered children".
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