Jake Fortina can’t believe the news. Children—over 20,000 since February 2022—are disappearing as Russia invades Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force Colonel Hennadiy Kovalenko and his wife, Mila, suffer heart-rending losses. Private Margarita Romanova, a medic in the Russian Army, faces a terrible dilemma, one that also holds the possibility of love and redemption. And in the background, Sergiy and Gleb, two young Ukrainian boys deported to Russia, must endure devastating and hellish circumstances. An unlikely confluence of Ukrainian, American, Italian, and Russian citizens unites to mount a rescue. The stakes have never been higher. "Steinke captures with chilling accuracy the harsh reality faced by families devastated by Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. What sets this novel apart is not just its raw truth, but its humanity." - Lauren Anderson, Former Senior FBI Executive and Global Women's Advocate "This tale of courage, sacrifice, and redemption pulls on every heartstring; especially for those who have served, are parents, and who love their country." - Command Sergeant Major Daniel Pinion, (US Army, Ret); Iraq War Veteran and Award Winning Author “Vital Mission, the fourth book in Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke’s Major Jake Fortina series, is a military thriller with exceptional heart. It goes beyond combat tactics to explore the traumatizing impact of war on those who wage it." - Best Book Chanticleer Book Reviews