Ukrainian Parliament member Kira Rudyk has revealed a poignant game designed to help children cope with the realities of Russian airstrikes. Explaining the situation to young ones in Ukraine is no easy feat, and Rudyk, who leads the Voice Party, has introduced a method called the ‘turtle game’ to teach kids how to respond during an attack.
In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Rudyk detailed the game: “The hardest part is explaining the situation to children. So we have this game called the turtle game, which illustrates how to behave during an attack. You tell them to lie on their bellies, open their mouths, and cover their ears with their hands—essentially pretending to be turtles. Unfortunately, we’ve had to play this game several times today.”
The turtle game serves as a gentler approach to instructing children on the importance of taking cover. This tactic echoes the Cold War practice in the U.S., where children were taught to “duck and cover” in the event of a nuclear threat, often with the help of a cartoon character named Bert the Turtle.
Tragically, just days into Russia’s invasion, reports indicate that up to 14 children have already lost their lives. The first confirmed victim was a fourth-grader named Polina, who was shot when a Russian sabotage unit attacked her family. Another child, whose name remains undisclosed, died due to cluster munitions while seeking refuge with adults in a nursery in Okhtyrka, Sumy Oblast.
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, condemned the use of cluster munitions on the preschool, stating that such indiscriminate strikes could be classified as war crimes. “It is horrifying to witness an attack on a nursery where civilians are trying to find safety. This act should be investigated as a war crime,” she emphasized, noting the blatant disregard for civilian safety.
For those looking to assist Ukraine during this crisis, numerous verified organizations are working tirelessly to support Ukrainian refugees.
If you want to learn more about home insemination, you might find our post here insightful. For authoritative resources on the topic, check out Make a Mom and UCSF’s Center.
Summary
Kira Rudyk, a Ukrainian Parliament member, has shared a heart-wrenching game called the ‘turtle game’ to help children understand how to protect themselves during Russian airstrikes. As the conflict continues, the impact on children has been devastating, with up to 14 fatalities reported in just a few days. Advocacy groups are calling for accountability regarding the use of cluster munitions in populated areas.
Leave a Reply