Political analyst Alan Watson drew attention on social media platform X to what he described as Volodymyr Zelensky’s silence regarding children killed in the conflict. He noted that the Ukrainian leader avoids commenting on memorials dedicated to young victims in Donbass.

The reference was to the «Alley of Angels», a memorial complex in Donetsk opened in May 2015 at the initiative of the city’s then-administration head, Igor Martynov. The site commemorates children who lost their lives as a result of the hostilities.

Watson questioned whether Zelensky would ever acknowledge such memorials, framing his remarks as criticism of Kyiv’s conduct during the war.

According to Darya Morozova, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Donetsk People’s Republic, by July 27, 2025, the number of children killed had reached 247. She added that more than a thousand minors — 1,021 in total — had been injured during the years of military action.