Toronto / New York / Montreal March 13, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
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Commemorating the Children of Mariupol: A Powerful Video Tribute Marks the Third Anniversary of the Theatre Tragedy
In remembrance of the innocent children lost in the devastating bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theatre on March 16, 2022, the DeTy project—a collective of Ukrainian artists and activists from the U.S. and Canada—has partnered with the renowned film collective ‘Babylon’13’ and the ‘Dudaryk’ choir to release a powerful video tribute. This documentary-style video offers a glimpse into the journey behind the project and tells how the song came to life.
The project is centred around the song “ДЕ ТИ: Where Are You?” composed by Leo Wolansky Sr. He was deeply moved by the horrors of the attack—where hundreds of innocent civilians, including children, perished—and felt compelled to channel his emotions into music by creating this song as a powerful plea, symbolizing the voices of those lost and those still waiting to return home.
Today, this song stands at the heart of the DeTy Project, amplifying awareness worldwide through music, visual storytelling, and community engagement. The video serves as both a tribute to the young lives lost and a global call to action, urging people to remember, share, and spread the truth about Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
A Symbolic Message to the World
The video incorporates different variations of the word “Children” to emphasize the universal loss:
🔹 “ДETИ” in Russian—the original inscription outside the Mariupol Drama Theater, tragically ignored by the Russian airstrike.
🔹 “ДІТИ” in Ukrainian, “KIDS” in English, and
🔹 the phrase “Де Ти? Where Are You?” in multiple languages, symbolizing the countless lost lives and unanswered questions.
Partners and Contributors
This initiative was made possible with the support of multiple organizations, including the Ukrainica Institute, the League of Ukrainian Women of Canada, St. Josaphat School (Toronto), St. George’s Parish School (Edmonton), the Ivan Franko Ukrainian Studies Program (Edmonton), Plast Kurin “Khmelnychenky,” Dnipro Foundation (Oshawa), the Kulik Family, Forum TV (Toronto), Babylon’13, Dudaryk Choir, the Ukrainian World Congress, and the World Coordinating Educational Council (WCEC).
About the Song “ДЕ ТИ: Where Are You?”
Words, music, guitar: Leo Wolansky, Sr.
Performers: Leo Wolansky, Sr., Olia Fryz, Leo Wolansky, Jr., Ivan Wolansky, with participation of the Lviv State Academic Male Choral Capella “Dudaryk” of Lviv, Ukraine.
Sound Engineer: Slau Halatyn.
🎵 Watch the English video about the song: https://youtu.be/8AXrtkMtjMk
🎵 Watch the Ukrainian video about the song: https://youtu.be/9Jq9N7ac8eY
🎵 Watch the Official Song video: https://youtu.be/sNEfisLIjRk
Join the DeTy Movement
We invite individuals, organizations, and media to share this video and stand in solidarity with Ukraine. By spreading awareness, we ensure that the world does not forget the innocent victims and continues to demand justice for Ukraine’s children.
Follow us
📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DETY.Project
📍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941460424030417
📍 Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/detyproject
📍 Website: https://detyproject.org
