On June 17, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa delivered remarks at the official opening of the photo exhibition “Seen – Heard - Protected,” jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ahead of World Refugee Day, marked annually on June 20.

During the opening ceremony, Mariana Betsa expressed gratitude to international partners for their support of Ukraine and to the countries that have provided refuge to millions of Ukrainians forced to flee Russia’s aggression.

“For Ukraine, World Refugee Day is a deeply emotional occasion, as millions of Ukrainians understand too well the painful reality faced by refugees around the world. Beginning in 2014, many Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, and dozens of other Ukrainian towns and villages in search of safety. In 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion triggered an even larger humanitarian and displacement crisis. Ukraine wants its people to come home when security conditions allow, as they remain an important part of our society and our country’s recovery,” Mariana Betsa emphasized.

The Deputy Minister expressed special appreciation to UNHCR for its consistent support of Ukraine and highlighted the organization’s important role in addressing the consequences of forced displacement caused by Russia’s aggression. She also stressed the importance of adequate funding for the 2026 UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Ukraine, which remains one of the key mechanisms for supporting Ukrainians affected by the war.

The event was also attended by Head of UNHCR Ukraine Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, Head of the State Migration Service of Ukraine Nataliia Naumenko, and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets.

Through the personal stories of refugees and stateless persons who have rebuilt their lives in Ukraine, the photo exhibition highlights resilience in the face of adversity, the strength of the human spirit, and the importance of support and protection for those forced to leave their homes.

 Special guests at the event included the protagonists of the exhibition - Syrian refugee Tarek Hassoun and Kazakhstan-born Oleksandra Driomova, who has been recognized as a stateless person. Despite difficult life circumstances, they were able to rebuild their lives in Ukraine and shared their personal stories of resilience, integration into Ukrainian society, and their efforts to support Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing aggression.

The event underscored the importance of continued international support for people affected by forced displacement and drew attention to the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which for more than twelve years has forced millions of Ukrainians to leave their homes in search of safety.