Ü Excessive harshness, everyday aggression and increasing radicalization – these are characteristics that can be found in every society at war. But expressions of humanity and mercy can be seen all the more clearly under such conditions. Just like in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict the Ukrainians’ relationship with Pets in war zones.
During peacetime, my wife and I taught the children that pets, be they cats, rats or parrots, were full members of the family. So when my family made preparations to flee Odessa on February 24, 2022, we never dreamed of abandoning our cat to its fate. Of course she was in the car with us heading west. Yes, that was difficult. But at that moment it was difficult for everyone. Should we have suspended them? Tell the children that they are no longer part of the family in such a situation? Of course not!
For the people of Ukraine, war has become part of everyday life. Despite the mortal fear of air raids and fighting, life goes on: people go to work, school and university. They love, laugh, get married, have children, go on vacation. They mourn, worry – and hope for peace. ➝ to the column
I still remember that a photo went around the world at the time: During the evacuation from Kyiv, a bearded man carefully carries an aquarium with a fish in it. I think the fish was a family member too. I later observed similar situations all over the country.
Evacuated with pets
May 2022, Zaporizhia, an old lady who came from the Russian occupied territories. There was a pretty white cat sitting next to her in the wheelchair – the two of them were evacuated together. In 2023, a village in the Lviv region of western Ukraine, a Shahed drone had destroyed some houses. Volunteers were on site with a special cage to bring two large dogs to safety. And there are hundreds of situations like this.
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I don’t claim that we are all so human and spiritualized here. There are also plenty of counter-examples where Ukrainians simply left their animals in their homes or abandoned them on the streets. But at the same time it is now considered good manners in Ukraine to take in abandoned animals, for example from Donbass. And then you proudly show your dog or cat and say: “Look, this is my Murzik or Barsik, what a handsome guy! My acquaintances, volunteers from Bakhmut, brought him for me.”
Artem Perfilov
Freelance journalist and local producer from the Ukrainian port city of Odessa. Since the beginning of the major Russian offensive in Ukraine, he has accompanied foreign journalists, including to the frontline areas. The author was a participant in one Eastern Europe workshops by the taz Panter Foundation.
In Kherson I have an entire animal shelter with dozens of such abandoned dogs, cats and occasionally even chickens seen. Local volunteers rented a former horse stable for them. Every day they feed and care for the poor creatures while the drones fly above them.
Pets in the Army
And do you know the story of the raccoon that the Russians stole while retreating from the Kherson Zoo? The people’s outrage was boundless. The artillerymen in the Kherson region even labeled their shells with the words “For our raccoon.”
Animals in the army are another separate topic. Well, dogs can of course find people under rubble. But cats? Ukrainian soldiers pick up stray kittens, feed them and care for them. They even sew them uniforms with tiny medals and badges and keep video blogs about them. I know a unit that even regularly transports their cat. She is currently Senior Sergeant Dusja Gromova.
However, the practical benefits of cats are obvious. Firstly, they hunt mice, which really cause problems for the soldiers in the positions. Secondly, they help combat boredom and reduce stress. The animals often ran towards the soldiers. They then share their food with them and let them sleep in their sleeping bags. There are even stories of deer and wild boars frightened by war joining soldiers.
However, I can’t say who helps whom more – we help the animals or the animals help us. Because animals in particular give us an excellent opportunity to preserve our simple humanity in this war.
Translated from Russian Gaby Coldewey