The icon presented by Volodymyr Zelensky to Pope Leo XIV was created by German Klimenko, Sonya Atlantova, and Alexander Klimenko. It was crafted from a piece of a crate from heavy artillery, brought from Izyum.

German Klimenko told UP.Culture that the icon "Mother of God with Child" was created in the winter of 2025 as part of the project "Icons on Ammo Crates", which has been ongoing since 2014. Over this time, the project has been showcased in 22 countries, 117 cities, and at 211 locations.

In the past year, the authors focused on the theme of deported Ukrainian children and dedicated a series of icons to them. "Mother of God with Child" is part of this series.

"The cycle of Marian icons emerged naturally, as the first work of the project was the icon of the Mother of God. We have continually returned to this theme, leading to the organic growth of the Marian icon cycle as a response to Russian actions regarding Ukrainian children.

The archetypal image of a mother with child resonates with everyone, even outside a religious context, and draws attention to the most vulnerable. It serves as a symbol of hope and love, fostering faith in the reunion of children with their mothers", – noted German Klimenko.

The icon depicts the Mother of God holding the infant Christ firmly with both hands. German explained that this is a "call to ensure that our children who are under occupation or have been deported are not forgotten or left helpless". Efforts must come not only from Ukrainians but also from the global community.

German added that the decision to present their work was made by the state leadership. Volodymyr Zelensky has long been acquainted with the team's creativity and even possesses an icon from the "Icons on Ammo Crates" project. Additionally, last year, the president's Easter greeting was filmed against the backdrop of the group's works, which are part of a permanent exhibition at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.