Press Release, 7.08.2025

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

On 6 August, on the tragic 80th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the central office of the Yabloko party in Moscow hosted a screening of the documentary film by Japanese film director Kaneto Shindo “Children of Hiroshima”. The film was shot in 1952 – seven years after the terrible tragedy that the Japanese experienced.

The consequences of the nuclear explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki shocked the world. People immediately realised the catastrophic potential of the nuclear bomb, and world leaders understood their responsibility to humanity. Since the disaster in 1945 to this day, nuclear weapons have not been used in wars or other armed conflicts.

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

“We are meeting today not only to commemorate the victims of the tragic events of 80 years ago, but also to talk about the fact that, unfortunately, we are once again at an extremely dangerous point,” Nikolai Rybakov, Chairman of the Yabloko party said. “Today, all the international mechanisms that were designed to protect humanity from the nuclear threat and a new war during these 80 years after World War II are either no longer working or will stop functioning in the near future. These are the highest and most serious challenges that politicians in all countries face.”

The guests of Yabloko – viewers of the film “Children of Hiroshima” – discussed contemporary international politics, as well as the personal responsibility of each person as regards nuclear safety.

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

After the film screening and discussion, the participants made origami paper cranes – a symbol of the courage and willpower demonstrated by the victims of the atomic bombings, many of whom experienced terrible suffering on the days the bombs fell and for several years after.