Internasjonal aksjon
Yellow-Blue Butterflies
Messages from the world to the Ukrainian children abducted and deported by russia. Each message becomes a paper butterfly in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
Om aksjonen
The action was initiated by Fresh Production Group together with the Ukrainian State Film Agency, the Young Film Critics Union of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Project Agency. People around the world write short messages to Ukrainian children on yellow and blue slips of paper, which are folded into butterflies. Some butterflies are collected physically — in “chests of hope”; others live digitally, as photos and videos with the action’s hashtags and an online map of where the messages come from.
The goal is to collect 20,000 butterflies — a symbolic number reflecting the scale of the tragedy. The butterflies will be given to children who have returned from forced deportation; the rest will be handed to the Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine and the Office of the First Lady until the remaining children are freed.
Hvorfor det er viktig
19 546
children deported and forcibly transferred by russia (campaign estimate; the real number may be higher)
20 924
including those who have been brought back
1 744
children returned to Ukraine (as of 5 Nov 2025)
* According to campaign data as of 5 November 2025. Figures are subject to verification against official sources and may change.
Hva har skjedd
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10.2025
The first butterflies were folded by the crew of the film “Yellow-Blue Butterflies” (supported by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation), dedicated to the deported children.
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20.11.2025
On World Children’s Day — the international presentation in Tallinn at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) and the Days of Ukrainian Cinema, attended by the First Lady of Estonia: the premiere of a short dance film, a performance by a Ukrainian dance duo, an exhibition of children’s drawings (with the Children of Heroes fund) and message collection from festival guests.
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22–24.08.2026
The action was part of the programme of the Ukrainian Independence Film Days festival in Drammen, Norway. Les mer →
Veien videre
The campaign is designed to travel: to international film festivals (Berlinale, Cannes, London and Toronto are the reference points), to new countries through diaspora communities, schools and cultural centres — culminating in a final public installation of 20,000 butterflies.
Bli med — skriv en hilsen
- Write a few warm words to Ukrainian children — on a yellow or blue slip of paper.
- Fold the paper into a butterfly — or simply bring your message to one of our events and we will fold it together.
- Take a photo and share it with the hashtags — or place your butterfly in a “chest of hope” at the festival.
Initiativets partnere
- Fresh Production Group
- Ukrainian State Film Agency (Derzhkino)
- Young Film Critics Union of Ukraine
- Ukrainian Project Agency
- Children of Heroes Charity Fund (Tallinn)
- Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF)
Bli med
Anyone can support the action — no money or travel needed.
- Schools, libraries, cultural centres and diaspora organisations: run a butterfly-folding event of your own.
- Festivals and cinemas: invite the action into your programme.
- Share a post with #YellowBlueButterflies / #ЖовтоБлакитніМетелики and tell your friends.