Ukrainian Moms Write Contact Details On Kids’ Bodies In Case They Die

A Ukrainian woman wrote down contact details on her 2-year-old daughter's back at the onset of Russia's invasion because she said she was worried about getting killed and leaving her child alone.

Sasha Makoviy scrawled on the skin of her daughter, Vira, as she prepared to evacuate her home in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on the first day of Russia's invasion in late February, the Daily Mail reported.

The 33-year-old artist posted a photo on her Instagram account Friday showing Vira's name and date of birth as well as various contact numbers written on the child's back.

"I decided to put the information on Vira's back because I was really scared. She is the most precious thing in my life so I couldn't imagine if we lost each other," Makoviy told the PA news agency.

"I thought, if I would die, she could find who she is, from what family she's come (sic), and maybe to find some familiar people who could take care of her," she explained.

A second photo on Makoviy's Instagram post, which has since received more than 26,000 likes, showed a handwritten contact card placed in Vira's jacket that contained the child's name, the name of her parents and their phone numbers in case they became separated.

The post reportedly struck a chord with Makoviy's compatriots.

"It's really touching them because thousands of other parents had to do this. It's what we all feel in our country," Makoviy said.

Ukrainian mothers were writing contact details on their children's bodies because "they will do everything for their kids to be safe," according to Lesia Vasylenko, who is a member of Ukraine's parliament.

"Yes, it's traumatizing. But until [Russian President Vladimir Putin] is stopped, there is no other way," Vasylenko said in a statement.

Makoviy and Vira are now in southern France, where they are receiving "a lot of help" and the "people are so nice."

However, the mother's anxiety level remains high as she said she was still scared at "every moment" due to things like mines.

At least 123 children have died in Ukraine and 183 more have been injured as a result of Russia's invasion, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' most recent civilian casualties report.