The Avengers star visited Unicef-funded centre in Chișinău, Moldova, where he met children who had fled their homes in Ukraine after the 2002 invasion by Russia
Avengers star Tom Hiddleston met children fleeing Vladimir Putin’s bloodthirsty war and spoke of the heart-wrenching “pain” they had suffered.
In a video diary, Tom, 45, documented his visit to Chișinău, Moldova, where he met children and their mothers who were forced to leave their homes following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During his visit, Tom spent time in Unicef supported schools and education centres set up specifically for Ukrainian refugee children.
At the Unicef-funded Divertis Day Centre in Chișinău, Tom met nine-year-old Milana and her mother Yulia, who fled Ukraine after the war reached their home city of Kherson. At the centre, Milana continues her Ukrainian curriculum online while taking part in music, dance and psychosocial activities, helping her feel safe and connected after months of displacement.
READ MORE: Putin says Ukraine war ‘coming to an end’ and even mentions Zelensky by nameREAD MORE: Putin health fears as ‘deeply frightened’ despot mocked over Victory Day appearance
After meeting the families and children, father-of-two Tom said: “My overwhelming impression of the day really is the extraordinary contrast. The contrast between the light, joy, playfulness, energy and spirit of the children that I met today and the depth of the pain and the descriptions of struggle and difficulty that those children’s mothers and caregivers have told me about.” Talking about the good work being done by Unicef and the impact it was having on children, Tom added: “They’re thriving, they’re learning, they’re free, they’re imaginative and they feel safe and they seem like happy children.”
Tom filmed the trip for a screening that will be shown during Soccer Aid, where Tom will also play, returning for his third appearance in the match on Sunday May 31. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine took place in February 2022, triggering one of the largest displacement crises in Europe in recent history.
Around 9.7 million people are currently displaced from their homes in search of safety. Neighbouring countries, including Moldova, opened their borders to families escaping the conflict. Since then, Unicef has been working continuously to support displaced children, providing safe spaces where they can learn, play and begin to recover, alongside education support, psychosocial care and assistance for families rebuilding their lives in displacement.
Throughout the visit, Tom also heard firsthand accounts from mothers about the danger, uncertainty and courage involved in fleeing Ukraine, often leaving with little idea of where they would find shelter or support. The Night Manager star Tom said: “The mothers have recounted the immense difficulty that they have endured and the extraordinary circumstances they’ve found themselves in – the struggles they’ve overcome to protect their children and get them to safety.”
Reflecting on Unicef’s ongoing support, Tom added: “These children have come from an environment of extraordinary danger, at great risk to their lives, and there are structures and resources in place that UNICEF has provided to keep these children safe, so that they can be children and have a childhood.”
He continued: “This trip to Moldova has brought home to me the realities of those costs. It’s been a privilege to meet these children, to meet these families and mothers and to hear their stories and to see what a difference this work makes.”
Philip Goodwin, Unicef UK CEO, said: “Tom Hiddleston’s visit to Moldova shows that for children forced to flee the war in Ukraine, the crisis is an ongoing reality. Years on, many children are still living far from home, trying to learn, grow and feel safe after everything they have experienced.
“Through UNICEF supported schools, safe spaces and protection services, we are helping children rebuild stability amid displacement, but this work depends on sustained support. Soccer Aid for UNICEF plays a vital role in making that possible. For two decades, it has helped turn public generosity into practical support for children affected by conflict and crisis, giving them the chance to be safe, to learn and to have the childhood they deserve.”
Tickets for the game are on sale now via socceraid.org.uk/tickets – adult tickets from £20 and juniors from £10. Tickets include access to a pre-game “Fan Zone”. Donations can be made ahead of the match at socceraid.org.uk/donate
