The claim
A photo shows a Ukrainian toddler whose mother wrote vital information on the child's back during the Russian invasion.
Our conclusion
Yes, the photo is real. Snopes fact checkers investigated this story.
During the Russian offensive against Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022, frightened Ukrainian parents tried to protect their children in case they were separated in the chaos and panic of war and flight.
A viral photo that vividly reflects the desperation of these parents shows a small child in diapers with his name, date of birth and his parents' phone numbers written on his back in black marker. It was posted on Twitter on April 4, 2022 by Ukrainian journalist Anastasiia Lapatina, reporting for the Kyiv Independent:
Information on the back: The fact check
Snopes fact checkers reference a New York Times article and various social media postings.
Snopes dates the photo's source as the girl's mother, who originally posted it on Instagram. In an interview with The New York Times, the child's mother, Oleksandra Makoviy, said that the letter was a desperate attempt to prepare the girl in case the worst happened and she became an orphan.
“I thought that if my husband and I died, Vira could find out who she is
”
The image became a symbol of the plight of civilians as the brutal war and reports of atrocities by Russian soldiers against Ukrainian civilians continued.
Source: Patil, Anushka. "Name, Phone, Address: The Writing on a Child's Back Is Now a Symbol of Ukrainian Parents' Terror." The New York Times, April 12, 2022. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/12/world/ukraine-war-children-parents.html .
That could also be of interest
Ukraine: Body was not placed on the street for media reports
A Facebook post that acts as a fact check is intended to show that a body was positioned specifically for the media. But there is something different behind the recording. Continue reading …
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

