Ukrainian Volunteers Risk Their Lives Caring For Abandoned Pets Amid Russian Shelling

Yulia, an animal rescue volunteer, feeds homeless dogs at the market in Druzhkivka, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, on February 16. The Russian invasion has not only triggered a massive humanitarian crisis; it has also left hundreds of thousands of pets abandoned by owners who fled to seek safety.

A member of the Territory of Kindness animal welfare group, Yulia is one of the many volunteers who provides food for animals that now live on the streets.
 

Though the city is not on the front line, Russian shelling continues to strike Druzhkivka, killing and maiming not only its residents but also the animals.
 

Despite the risks, volunteers like Yulia continue to reach out and care for nervous and exhausted animals.

In 2021, there were 267 homeless dogs in Druzhkivka, a town that had a prewar population of 54,000. Since the invasion, volunteers are now feeding more than 900 dogs and almost 1,400 cats that roam the pockmarked streets.

Hungry cats tuck in.

Svitlana is another volunteer who cares for the abandoned animals.

Volunteers take the time to cuddle and play with the abandoned pets.

One of them is this blind dog who gets extra love and attention. 

As well as caring for the animals that roam the streets, Svitlana also has 13 cats and 14 dogs at her home.