Themes by tag: animals
On April 2, the Media Center Ukraine in Kyiv will hold a briefing titled “Four-legged rescuers and fighters: How the war has transformed the role of canine units.”
Participants:
– Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, Press Officer of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU);
– Yuliia Secheiko, Instructor for Rescue Units, who works with a beagle named Toto at the Interregional Center for Humanitarian Demining and Rapid Response, SESU;
– Yevhen Sholudko, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist and Canine Handler, who works with a Belgian Malinois named Alf at the Interregional Center for Humanitarian Demining and Rapid Response, SESU.
Key topics:
– The evolving role of service dogs in frontline operations and combat zones;
– The unique challenges faced by handlers and search dogs in the aftermath of russian shelling;
– Training practices for canine units in the context of wartime demands;
– The rehabilitation and reintegration process for service dogs following combat missions;
– Assessing the current availability of canine specialists and service dogs in Ukraine.
The team of the Bat Rehabilitation Center in Kharkiv, together with volunteers caring for bats in various cities of Ukraine, will dedicate the month of March to releasing these endangered animals back into their natural habitat. These are bats that have been rescued and cared for by volunteers throughout the winter.
The release events will take place in Kyiv on March 29 and in Vinnytsia, Lviv, Rivne and Chernivtsi on March 30.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Olha Tolsta and her mother have been caring for cats abandoned by their owners in the northern Saltivka district of Kharkiv. To pay for the care of such a large number of animals, Olha began making traditional Ukrainian jewelry. Over the past three years, she has earned and spent more than 250,000 hryvnia on the animals.
In addition to feeding the cats, Olha and her mother try to take care of their health and find them new homes. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, they have managed to sterilize 30 cats and rehome another 30.
You can talk to Olha Tolsta either online or in person by prior arrangement.
Twelve years ago, Ihor Tsyba and his family turned their backyard into an ostrich farm. Over time, their farm in the village of Verkhnia Syrovatka, Sumy Oblast, grew to house more than 50 species of birds.
When russia launched its all-out war against Ukraine, the village was occupied, putting the animals in grave danger. In early March 2022, heavy shelling shook the area, injuring many birds in their enclosures. Three ostriches suffered wounds so severe that they had to be euthanized.
Following the village’s liberation, the farm took on a new role—rehabilitating injured wild animals. Among its rescues was a roe deer that lost a leg after being struck by a combine harvester and a swan found trapped in the ice with its wings severed. Tsyba funds the farm’s operations himself, dedicating his resources to caring for the animals.
For reference: Ihor Tsyba, based in Sumy Oblast, is available for interviews with journalists both online and in person by prior arrangement.
By April 11, 2022, Ukrainian forces had liberated Sumy and restored control over the state border in Sumy Oblast.
The Charitable Foundation “Volunteer Union PORUCH”, in collaboration with partners, has launched a project to install automatic feeders for cats and dogs near the front lines. The initiative aims to ensure a continuous food supply for animals in areas where people have been forced to flee due to shelling.
The feeders are specially designed structures that automatically dispense dry food while protecting it from moisture. Volunteers have already installed 100 automatic feeders in the Donetsk oblast, providing a lifeline for more than 500 stray animals.
Unfortunately, as russian forces advanced, some of the feeders ended up in occupied territory.
By prior arrangement, journalists can interview Foundation volunteers in Kyiv, observe the feeders in action, receive photo and video material, and, if possible, speak online with residents of the Donetsk oblast who are monitoring the feeders.
Before the russia’s full-scale invasion on Ukraine, Volodymyr Bilenkyi opened his own veterinary clinic, Vet House, in Vinnytsia. However, when war broke out, he was quickly mobilized and joined the airborne assault troops. For the next two and a half years, he fought on the front lines, while his wife took over the clinic’s operations, even opening a second branch during his absence.
In July 2024, after returning to civilian life, Volodymyr set his sights on expanding his business. He applied for and received a grant from the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, using the funds to purchase essential equipment for the second clinic. Volodymyr firmly believes that military personnel transitioning to civilian life need to find something they are passionate about to guide them forward.
All those interested can connect with Volodymyr Bilenkyi, both online and in person, by appointment.
On the night of March 3, a russian drone strike hit the Feldman Ecopark in the Kharkiv oblast, causing animal casualties and damage to park facilities. According to park staff, there were three direct hits, two of which hit the central area of the park.
Five domestic animals in the petting zoo area were injured. Two goats, previously evacuated from a combat zone, were killed — one of them pregnant.
Windows were shattered in several park buildings and enclosures were damaged.
Journalists can receive comments from Ecopark representatives both online and offline upon request.
Background information: Before the russian invasion, Feldman Ecopark was home to about 5,000 animals. When the war broke out, the park came under heavy bombardment, resulting in the deaths of over 300 animals, while some escaped into the wild. Many animals had to be evacuated in order to survive. The park’s infrastructure was severely damaged, and six people involved in evacuating the animals lost their lives.
The Kyiv Hippodrome, in collaboration with the Kyiv Military Hub, invites combat veterans and service members to participate in free horseback riding lessons. The lessons take place outdoors or in an indoor arena and last 40 minutes. The initiative was launched last November. 74 veterans have already participated in the program.
Journalists can cover the session scheduled for March 4 in Kyiv, upon prior arrangement.
A dog-assisted therapy program to help rehabilitate both military personnel and civilians is currently underway at the Superhumans Center in Lviv. For two weeks, police dogs from the Dog Training Center of the Main Department of the National Police in the Kyiv oblast will work with patients at the center.
The dogs Vanda, Bentley, Ares and Polia worked during the de-occupation of the Kyiv oblast. They were used to search for saboteurs and looters and in demining operations.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, these trained assistance dogs have been actively working in hospitals across the Kyiv region and other areas, providing emotional support to patients. They have undergone special certification and are trained to assist in rehabilitation. Patients can play with, feed and pet the dogs as part of their therapy. The specialists who run the program use unique methods that combine psychological techniques and canine assisted therapy to help patients recover.
Journalists interested in covering these sessions in Lviv next week can arrange access by prior arrangement.
At the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center in Kharkiv, over three thousand bats are being cared for as part of a critical rescue effort. The center’s team is responsible for rescuing bats from various cities across Ukraine, providing them with much-needed shelter and support.
Specialists at the center focus on helping the animals survive the harsh winter months. During this period, bats are especially vulnerable, requiring special care to ensure their survival. Those in need of additional attention are fed and treated accordingly. Come spring, the center’s team plans to release the rehabilitated bats back into the wild.
Amid the ongoing full-blown war, the center has expanded its operations. The team’s current focus is on bat conservation and scientific research. Looking ahead, the center aims to establish volunteer hubs in other Ukrainian cities to broaden its impact.
Biologist Aliona Shulenko, the coordinator of the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center, is available for conversations both online and in person in Kharkiv, by prior arrangement.
