On 9 June, the Bled Strategic Forum, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia and the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovenia, hosted a deeply human and reflective discussion at Cankarjev dom titled “Lost Childhoods, Unwavering Courage and Hope for a Bright Future: Three Years of Ukrainian Resilience.” The event shed light on the ongoing reality of war in Ukraine—not only as a political crisis but as a lived experience for millions.
Opened by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon and Ukrainian Ambassador Petro Beshta, the evening began with a strong message: true peace is more than just the silence of guns. It is the restoration of freedom, dignity, and the right to build one’s future. Both underlined the Ukrainian people’s courage in defending not just their country, but the principles of international law and shared European values.
The panel discussion, moderated by Katja Geršak, featured Ukrainian activist Oleg Rogoza, student Uliana Chebotarenko, former Slovenian Ambassador to Ukraine Tomaž Mencin, journalist Branko Soban, and Slovenian volunteer Luka Goršek, who has been actively involved in organizing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Together, they painted a powerful picture of a nation living through war—and resisting it in every possible way.
Panelists shared how, for many Ukrainians, the war began long before the full-scale invasion in 2022, with the rise of separatist movements and destabilization in the east. The war has since torn families apart, forced millions into exile, and stolen the childhoods of an entire generation. And yet, amidst the devastation, the Ukrainian people continue to live, adapt, and hope.
Speakers emphasized that this resilience is not passive endurance, but an active form of resistance. People continue to go to work, attend school, volunteer, and help one another, asserting their humanity in the face of brutal inhumanity. They resist the normalization of war—not only by surviving, but by striving for a better, freer future.
The discussion made clear that the war is also being fought over memory and identity. Russia’s aggression has not only targeted territory, but attempted to erase Ukrainian history and culture. And yet, it has failed to suppress the Ukrainian spirit or the country’s vision of a democratic future rooted in European integration.
As the war enters its fourth year, the path to peace remains distant and uncertain. But the stories shared at the event reaffirmed a truth that must not be forgotten: peace cannot be built on silence or forgetting. It must be built on justice, solidarity, and the unwavering belief in freedom.
Ukraine’s struggle is one of global significance. It is not just about defending borders, but about defending the values we all claim to uphold.