Themes by tag: animals

Olena Velychenko is the founder of the Grand Dog canine training center in Kherson. Together with her team, she taught dog owners how to build connections with their pets, while training dogs to assist people.

However, everything changed after the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For some time, Olena remained under occupation together with the dogs, even though her center had been destroyed by russian forces. Following the liberation of the city, she relocated to Odesa, where she began rebuilding her life’s work.

Today, the Grand Dog canine training center also operates in Odesa, providing support to children, internally displaced people, veterans, and individuals going through difficult periods in their lives. Velychenko conducts classes for children free of charge.

Olena Velychenko is available for interviews both online and in person in Odesa by prior arrangement.

• animals
• casualties
• occupation
• women
• Odesa

At the beginning of June, 22 dolphins washed ashore in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park. Scientists later found another 15 dead animals. The information was reported by Ivan Rusev, Doctor of Biological Sciences and head of the research department of the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park.

The biologist stresses that the ecosystem is suffering from ongoing hostilities, including mine explosions, bombardments, missile launches and the use of powerful sonars by military vessels. Together with his team, Ivan Rusev documents and records every case of ecocide on a daily basis.

Ivan Rusev is available for interviews both online and in person by prior arrangement.

• animals
• ecology
• russian crimes

Kyiv Military Hub, together with the Kyiv Hippodrome, holds horse riding classes twice a week for Ukrainian defenders and veterans.

Each session lasts 40 minutes — enough time to learn basic riding skills, enjoy the experience and simply recharge.

Equine-assisted therapy for veterans includes:

• physical impact, as the horse transmits rhythmic movement impulses to the rider, activating muscles and the vestibular system;
• psychological and emotional support, as interaction with animals — even without riding — helps reduce stress, alleviate depression and support emotional recovery.

By prior arrangement, journalists are welcome to attend and cover the classes held in Kyiv.

Background: Since the initiative was launched, more than 2,000 defenders, veterans and their family members have taken part in the classes.

• animals
• culture
• military
• Kyiv

Before the full-scale invasion, Yurii Yahusevych worked in music and organised festivals, while also keeping horses. Among the animals he acquired was one of the Polissian breed, which he later discovered was nearly extinct. He decided to revive the breed in Ukraine.

Yahusevych established his Shcherbati Tsuhli farm in northern Kyiv region, where there was enough space for a small herd. Shortly before February 2022, he and a team of enthusiasts relocated young horses farther from the border, while seven adult animals remained behind. After the start of the full-scale russian invasion, the horses ended up under occupation.

Following the liberation of Kyiv region, the animals were left without pasture, as the area was contaminated with remnants of explosives and, in some places, mined.

A year ago, Yahusevych and the horses relocated to Khmelnytskyi region, where he has since rebuilt the farm. Some animals were entrusted to local residents, while he continues to care for the rest.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Yurii Yahusevych both online and in person in Khmelnytskyi region by prior arrangement.

• animals
• occupation
• Khmelnytskyi

Starting March 29, ceremonial releases of rescued Red Book-listed bats will take place across Ukraine. The animals were rescued by volunteers from different regions of the country. Over the winter of 2025–2026, more than 4,000 bats were rehabilitated.

Volunteers invite the public to attend the events and take part in the releases. The bats will be released at sunset, preceded by a briefing on their rehabilitation.
Events are scheduled as follows:
March 29 — Cherkasy and Rivne,
April 4 — Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv and Poltava,
April 5 — Lviv and Vinnytsia,
April 10 — Kamianske,
April 11 — Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih,
April 12 — Kharkiv.

• animals
• volunteers

On March 21–22, Kyiv will host the 20th AdoptMe Days pet adoption festival. The event is aimed at those looking to adopt a pet, learn more about responsible adoption, or simply spend the weekend in a meaningful way.

Visitors will meet healthy animals from nearly 60 shelters across the Kyiv region, all hoping to find a home.

Many shelters are operating at the limit of their capacity, especially after a difficult winter. Despite the challenges, they have continued rescuing and caring for animals, hoping that spring will bring their wards not only warmth, but also loving homes.

Over the past two years, AdoptMe Days has helped more than 2,170 animals from shelters find families.

• animals
• Kyiv

An equestrian sports complex in the Kharkiv region survived occupation and was left without management: in 2022, the owner abandoned it on the eve of the region’s liberation from russian forces. Criminal proceedings were opened against the owner. The horses were cared for by stableman Oleksii Boliukh despite the absence of salary.

The complex was placed under arrest, which prevented volunteers from evacuating the horses to a safer location for several years. However, this year the situation due to ongoing shelling worsened, and the stableman’s house was destroyed by a russian strike. As a result, the animals were evacuated.

The operation was planned to be completed in four days but lasted ten due to constant shelling. Military personnel, the police evacuation unit “White Angels,” volunteers, and humanitarian organizations joined the rescue effort. Ultimately, the 19 horses were transported to the Kharkiv Hippodrome, where they are now under the care of the animal welfare organization “Animals 911 Ukraine.”

Interviews with the volunteer team are available both online and offline in Kharkiv by prior arrangement.

• animals
• occupation
• volunteers
• Kharkiv
• evacuation

Petro Prysiedko has worked for several years at DTEK, where he is responsible for the design and development of the mobile application and online account platform for the YASNO project. During a lighthearted discussion with colleagues about unconventional business ideas, he came up with the concept of a “subscription” service for chickens and eggs.

In 2024, he applied for a business grant program. His startup was selected among the five winners — Petro received financial support and began implementing the idea.

Currently, he has one coop for 20 chickens and plans to build another in the spring. The rental service operates on a subscription model: for 1,000 hryvnias per month, a person chooses a chicken, gives it a name, and receives an “egg box” with 20 eggs. If the hen lays more eggs during the month, Petro donates the monetary difference to the Defense Forces. All 20 birds are already reserved, and there is a waiting list for new ones.

Journalists may speak with Petro Prysiedko both online and offline in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• animals
• culture
• Kyiv

Amid relentless russian strikes on Ukraine’s power infrastructure and a biting winter chill, staff at Kyiv Zoo are going to extraordinary lengths to keep the animals from freezing — with special care reserved for Tony, the country’s only gorilla and one of Europe’s oldest.

Five times a day, keepers load wood into slow-burning Bullerjan stoves to maintain a steady 20°C (68°F) in the 51-year-old western lowland gorilla’s enclosure. The massive primate, who cannot tolerate the cold like his African origins demand, requires constant warmth to stay comfortable.

Generators also hum in the background, supplying backup power and heat across the facility. A wide range of other species depend on these efforts too: hippos, flamingos, capybaras, parrots, aquarium inhabitants, and numerous others from warmer climates all need protection from the outages and subzero temperatures.

Journalists can arrange visits in advance to observe and report on the zookeepers’ work firsthand.

For reference: Founded in 1907, Kyiv Zoo has served as a vital sanctuary since russia’s full-scale invasion began, taking in hundreds of animals evacuated from war zones across the country. The rescued creatures have received expert veterinary treatment and rehabilitation under the zoo’s care.

• animals
• blackout
• Kyiv

Khrystyna Drahomaretska, a 28-year-old trained architect, has stepped away from her profession to rescue animals amid Ukraine’s war, where she works as a stray animal catcher and evacuates pets from active combat areas.

She carries on despite constant danger from enemy shelling. In Toretsk in the Donetsk region, three russian guided aerial bombs detonated near her. In Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, she sustained shrapnel wounds while rescuing animals as russian forces hammered the area with mortar fire.

Originally focused on sterilization missions, Khrystyna has spent the past year leading evacuation efforts, pulling abandoned and stray animals out of frontline zones and finding them foster or permanent homes.

She also founded a shelter in the Odesa region, where many of the evacuated animals are taken for treatment, socialization, and rehoming, about 70 percent eventually find adoptive families abroad. The facility currently houses around 250 dogs.

Journalists interested in learning more about her work or arranging an interview can reach out to speak with her online or in person in Odesa, Kyiv, or Kharkiv, by appointment.

For reference: Khrystyna Drahomaretska conducts her rescue operations in partnership with the 12 Vartovykh Charitable Foundation and Animal Rescue Kharkiv. She is also part of the UAnimals rescue mission.

• animals
• casualties
• women
• Kharkiv
• Kyiv
• Odesa
• evacuation