Sir Elton John ‘helps rescue’ six-year-old boy from Ukraine conflict
Sir Elton John is believed to have helped rescue a six-year-old boy and his family who were caught up in the Ukrainian conflict.
The boy, Lev Ageyeva, had first met Sir Elton in an orphanage in 2009, when the singer expressed a wish to adopt him alongside partner David Furnish.
However the adoption was blocked after a Ukrainian minister attacked the singer for being “not married and too old” – though the boy’s grandmother rescued him from the orphanage.
The veteran singer is thought to have this week been involved in a plan alongside Ukrainian socialite Olena Franchuk to rescue the boy and his remaining family from the conflict area.
A bus travelled 460 miles to get the boy, his brother Artyom Ageyeva, seven, and his grandmother Yulia Ageyeva, 61, out of Mariupol in the east of Ukraine and safely to the capital Kiev.
Ms Ageyeva said: “People say Russian tanks will attack soon. I thank God for whoever helped us. We’ve been told we will be moved to a flat and there’s a school not far away.”
Sir Elton promised of the boy in 2009: “I would love to adopt him, he has stolen my heart. I won’t give up on him, ever.”
The singer’s spokesperson declined to comment.
