Empty Beds: The Tale of 19,546 Abducted Ukrainian Children
Late October, in the heart of Manhattan’s Little Ukraine neighborhood, an emotional and poignant art installation, Empty Beds, opened to the public. This striking 100-foot mural created by renowned photographer Phil Buehler, in partnership with Bird of Light Foundation, vividly brings attention to one of the most tragic yet overlooked atrocities of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine—the abduction and forced transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children.
Each haunting image in the mural depicts an empty child's bed—beds that once belonged to Ukrainian children who were held captive in Russian-occupied territories, subjected to war crimes, and forcibly separated from their families. These beds, now safely empty as their occupants have returned to Ukraine, symbolize the thousands of other Ukrainian children whose beds remain heartbreakingly vacant.
The Stories Behind the Empty Beds
One powerful image tells the story of 17-year-old Rostyslav from Radensk, Kherson region. Rostyslav endured brutal torture after refusing to renounce his Ukrainian citizenship and accept a Russian passport. His harrowing escape back to Ukraine, followed by his courageous testimony before the U.S. Congress, embodies the resilience and bravery of these young survivors.
A War on Identity
Russia’s deliberate attempt to erase Ukrainian identity is at the heart of this tragedy. Ukrainian children abducted by Russian forces are forbidden from speaking their native language, their Ukrainian names and birthdates altered, and families threatened with losing parental rights if their children resist attending Russian schools. Many children are subjected to intense Russian propaganda in so-called "re-education camps," isolated from any connection to their homeland.
Art as a Call to Action
Phil Buehler’s photographic installation, created in collaboration with Bird of Light Foundation, seeks not only to document these atrocities but also to inspire action and solidarity. The vivid and deeply personal imagery invites viewers into the intimate, disrupted lives of these families, evoking empathy and urging immediate support for efforts to return every child safely home.
The Empty Beds project was realized in support of the President of Ukraine’s initiative, Bring Kids Back UA, alongside vital partners such as Save Ukraine and the Ukrainian Child Rights Network.
As viewers pass through Little Ukraine until November 30, they will confront a powerful reminder that thousands of beds remain empty—and thousands of families still wait for the safe return of their children.
Join us in our mission to reunite these families and protect Ukrainian identity. Together, let's Bring Kids Back
