More than 19,546 Ukrainian children have been identified as stolen—unlawfully deported or transferred to Russia or Russian-occupied territories since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Seventeen-year-old Arthur is one of those children. He grew up in Mariupol, Ukraine, where his childhood was shattered by war. During Russia’s invasion, Arthur witnessed unimaginable violence—neighbors buried alive when their building collapsed, and a child killed by shelling just steps away from him. Eventually, Arthur was forcibly deported to Russian-controlled territory.
Statistically, children and teens living outside of parental care face extraordinary risk. Without support during the transition to adulthood, many are vulnerable to trafficking, forced military recruitment, homelessness, exploitation, and long-term trauma. For young people like Arthur, turning 18 can be a dangerous turning point.
Because of your ongoing prayers for abducted children, that was not Arthur’s story.
This past year, he was rescued from occupied territory through one of For Every Orphan’s trusted partners. He is now receiving trauma counseling and living under the care of our partner in Kyiv, who operates a specialized center for teens aging out of care. There, Arthur has safety, stability, and adults who understand the unique needs of youth transitioning toward independence. He is being given the space to heal and the skills needed to build a future free from exploitation and coercion. Please pray for Arthur and those like him who need this specialized care!
And won't you also pray for other teenage boys like Arthur who are still awaiting rescue? Only the Lord can make these rescue efforts successful and totally heal Ukrainian boys from the trauma they have experienced and are experiencing.
Please especially pray for the efforts of our trusted partner who is rescuing and rehabilitating abducted children—that the Lord would daily supernaturally rejuvenate and protect them — to carry on with their invaluable work. They must travel many miles through very difficult and dangerous situations to rescue these abducted teens and, when possible, reunite them with their families. Once the children are rescued, helping them through the healing process also requires specially designed care. We ask that the Lord would continue to provide the funds necessary for our partner to move forward with this invaluable service!
Thank you for standing in the gap for children when their safety and protection matters most.
