Ukraine: the animal images helping to tell the story of an invasion
PICTURES: In the grip of a Russian invasion, the situation for everyone in Ukraine is truly terrible. Among the pictures and videos emerging of the pitched fighting and humanitarian crisis, glimpses of pets and other animals caught in the crossfire are helping to tell a different side of the human story.
‘Rambo’ the puppy keeping soldiers company while at their post
According to a post on Reddit, Rambo the puppy and his siblings have been keeping Ukrainian soldiers entertained while guarding a post at an undisclosed location. In the FreedomNews.tv video, the soldiers describe Rambo as their ‘protector’, able to hear strangers’ footsteps before they can.
Through the soldiers’ otherwise steely facades, we see wry smiles as they speak of Rambo with obvious fondness, reminding us of their humanity despite the threat of Russian forces advancing on their position.
Further heartbreak for fleeing families as beloved companions left at borders due to regulations, reports PETA
A man clutches his dog as they flee into a Metro station in Kharkiv on Thursday. Credit: Salwan Georges/The Washington Post.
PETA is being flooded with reports of companion animals being left at Ukrainian borders as families flee the fighting. As if they didn’t have enough heartbreak to deal with having left their towns and cities for the relative safety of neighbouring countries to the west, many have had to leave their beloved pets because of regulations governing the non-commercial movement of animals into the EU and UK.
“Since Russia invaded Ukraine and continues to attack, hundreds of thousands of people have fled the country,” reported PETA. “Many already-traumatised people were being faced with the impossible decision of leaving their beloved animals behind due to the protocol for non-commercial movement of companion animals into the EU.”
Some good news, however, as Poland is now allowing animals in without requiring vaccinations, microchips and other documents. Romania and Hungary have also relaxed their restrictions. Animal groups in various regions are also offering to vaccinate animals for free upon entry.
Visit PETA.org.uk to find out what you can do to help, such as writing to Defra.
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Food will soon run out for stray animals as Russian invades, fear Ukraine’s shelters
A group of stray puppies in Ukraine, who would normally be feed and rehomed by shelters like Happy Paw. Credit: Sean Gallup / Getty Images.
Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has an estimated 50,000 stray animals, which shelters there work tirelessly to rescue, feed and rehome. But with Russian forces now entering the city and fighting underway, the city’s shelters fear food for the animals will soon run out, reported Newsweek yesterday.
"According to our data, all the animals are alive and have food for a few days. But no delivery service wants to bring food—that's the biggest problem so far. Therefore, we are all on hold [and hope to] resume our work as soon as possible," said Nastya Aboliesheva, who works for Kyiv-based cat and dog shelter Happy Paw.
Another Kyiv-based cat and dog shelter, Shelter Best Friends, told Newsweek that they currently have over 1,000 animals, but only two days’ worth of food left. For security reasons, staff have been forced to leave the shelter, with the hope that families fleeing Kyiv will take their animals with them rather than abandon them.
A list of shelters and charities you can support
A staff member sheltering with an injured dog at Shelter Pif in Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine. Credit: Shelter Pif
IFAW - The International Fund for Animal Welfare is fundraising to rush emergency aid to two Ukrainian shelters: Shelter Pif (Donetsk) and Holivka Shelter (Gorlovka).
Casa lui Patrocle - the Romanian animal rescue charity, located 25 miles from the Ukrainian border, has pledged to help families fleeing by providing veterinary care to their companion animals.
Sirius - the largest shelter for stray animals in Ukraine, established in 2000.
Happy Paw - a charity that cares for homeless cats and dogs.
UAnimals - works in Ukraine to protect animals from exploitation and abuse.
K9Aid - the Australian animal charity has set up an Emergency Fundraiser to send donations to the smaller rescue groups on the ground.
Andrew Gough is Media and Investigations Manager for Surge.
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