**Santa Clara County Honors Ukrainian Children Lost in Nearly Four-Year War**
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — Ukraine and Russia have been embroiled in a deadly conflict that has spanned nearly four years, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives, including hundreds of children. As peace talks continue between the two nations and the United States, Santa Clara County is paying tribute to those lives lost.
A powerful memorial featuring 664 angels now fills a space in the county building, commemorating the Ukrainian children killed in the war. The tribute is displayed in the same building where Supervisor Otto Lee works every day.
“I’m a father of three daughters, and this could be one of my daughters if I were living in Ukraine,” Lee said. “It’s horrific in many ways, especially with how the war has been carried out.”
The memorial has journeyed across the globe, traveling throughout Europe and Canada. Now, the local branch of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America has brought it to San Jose.
San Jose State Assistant Professor Ulia Gosart, a native of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of the display in raising awareness. “It reminds us of the cost of contemporary wars, that children have to pay with their own lives,” Gosart said. “It also highlights the brutality of the war, which not only takes place on the front lines but also in people’s homes, claiming the lives of families and innocent children.”
There is some optimism that the loss of life may soon come to an end. A U.S. official told ABC News on Tuesday that a potential peace deal is in place after talks with Russian and Ukrainian delegations overseas.
The agreement could signal the conclusion of this nearly four-year conflict and bring an end to the rising death toll among children.
“The killing needs to stop, and I’m really hoping that some kind of peace — and in this case, a just peace — can be reached,” Lee said. “So that the killing, missiles, and drone attacks end.”
Until then, Santa Clara County remembers — so the sacrifices made abroad are never forgotten.
The memorial will remain on display in the county building until the end of the month, after which it will be replaced by a similar memorial honoring Palestinian children.
https://abc7news.com/post/russia-ukraine-war-memorial-santa-clara-county-honors-ukrainian-children-killed-peace-talks-continue/18209953/
