UK Parliament screening, Q&A by film’s protagonists and meeting with Speaker of the Parliament) - September 09, 2025
On September 9, 2025, children who have been stolen and injured as a result of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine addressed Members of UK Parliament and the House of Lords at a special screening of the movie "Children in the Fire", Evgeny Afineevsky’s critically acclaimed documentary, hosted by Johanna Baxter MP.
In a deeply moving and emotional evening, parliamentarians were visibly moved and often tearful as they listened to accounts of unimaginable suffering – and were struck by the extraordinary courage and resilience shown by the young survivors.
Johanna Baxter, Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, said: “This evening has been about making sure that children’s voices are not lost in the noise of conflict. As we have seen throughout the years of this brutal conflict, children have too often been the victims of Putin’s illegal invasion. By bringing their voices to Parliament, I want to make sure politicians understand why it is so important to stand up to Russia’s aggression – to protect Ukraine’s children and protect its future.”
Also addressing the event was Stephen Doughty MP, Minister at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, who outlined the UK Government’s ongoing support for Ukraine. He highlighted last Wednesday’s announcement of new sanctions against 11 individuals and entities complicit in the forced deportation and mass transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories to Russia – a war crime named in the arrest warrants against President Putin and Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova.
During children's visit to UK Parliament, Vlad, Valeriia, Roman and director of the movie Evgeny Afineevsky met with Minister Doughty and were personally welcomed by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, where they spoke about their experiences and shared their hopes for the future.
