Bodnar credited Turkish first lady, Emine Erdoğan, and Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, for their initiatives in bringing the children to Türkiye.
The ambassador expressed his admiration for Ankara's hospitality, stating that the children have been able to forget the traumatic sounds of bombs and have instead enjoyed happy days.
"They are our future. I cannot thank you enough. Long live Türkiye, long live Ukraine," said Bodnar.
Ruslan Shostak, the founder of the Ruslan Shostak Charitable Foundation, also expressed his appreciation for Türkiye's efforts to provide a safe haven for Ukrainian children during the war.
Shostak mentioned the success of the "Childhood Without War" project, which brought children from orphanages in Ukraine to Türkiye.
According to Shostak, the children have been living "safely and happily" for a year.
During the event, the children, dressed in outfits featuring the crescent moon and star, which is the symbol of the Turkish flag, performed various shows, accompanied by both Turkish and Ukrainian flags.
They also recited poems to mark the occasion.
