Tom Hiddleston, the star of The Avengers and The Night Manager, has spoken of the profound 'pain' experienced by children fleeing Vladimir Putin's brutal war in Ukraine. The 45-year-old actor visited a UNICEF-supported centre in Chișinău, Moldova, where he met families forced to abandon their homes after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
A Visit Marked by Contrast
During his visit, Hiddleston documented his experiences in a video diary, highlighting the stark contrast between the resilience of the children and the trauma they have endured. At the UNICEF-funded Divertis Day Centre, he met nine-year-old Milana and her mother Yulia, who fled the city of Kherson when the war reached their doorstep. The centre provides a safe haven where children can continue their Ukrainian curriculum online, engage in music and dance, and receive psychosocial support to help them heal.
Reflecting on the day, Hiddleston said: 'My overwhelming impression is the extraordinary contrast between the light, joy, playfulness, energy, and spirit of the children I met today and the depth of the pain and the descriptions of struggle and difficulty that their mothers and caregivers have shared with me.' He added that the children are 'thriving, learning, free, imaginative, and feel safe.'
The Ongoing Crisis
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, triggering one of Europe's largest displacement crises since World War II. Approximately 9.7 million people remain displaced, with neighbouring countries like Moldova opening their borders to those fleeing. UNICEF has been working tirelessly to provide safe spaces, education, and psychosocial care for displaced children.
Hiddleston also heard firsthand accounts from mothers about the perilous journeys to safety. 'The mothers have recounted the immense difficulty they have endured and the extraordinary circumstances they have found themselves in—the struggles they have overcome to protect their children,' he said.
Soccer Aid and Continued Support
The actor filmed his visit for a screening during Soccer Aid, a charity match in which he will participate for the third time on May 31. Proceeds from the event support UNICEF's work with children affected by conflict. Philip Goodwin, CEO of UNICEF UK, emphasised the ongoing need: 'Tom Hiddleston’s visit shows that for children forced to flee the war in Ukraine, the crisis is an ongoing reality. Years on, many are still living far from home, trying to learn, grow, and feel safe.'
Tickets for Soccer Aid are available at socceraid.org.uk/tickets, with adult tickets from £20 and juniors from £10. Donations can also be made ahead of the match.
