Frontline Heroes: The Brave Mission to Rescue Animals in Ukraine

UAnimals rescuer Danya (L) stands inside an evacuation vehicle car near fellow rescuer Vlad (R) while they prepare the vehicle for a trip to an evacuation location. Ukraine, 2024.

Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

Empowering our capacity for Compassion and Change

We Animals contributing photographer Anzhelika Kozachenko accompanied UAnimals, a Ukrainian environmental and animal protection charity, to document the team’s rescue operations across several regions on the frontlines of Russia’s occupation.

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“Currently, the situation in Ukraine is very difficult. While the Russian aggression has not at all decreased, and the attacks are getting heavier, international awareness and support are not as strong as back in 2022. During the past weeks, Russia has been heavily shelling the Kharkiv and Kherson regions, trying to occupy the regions. Dozens of civilians are killed weekly, yet it is more difficult to engage international communities in the public dialogue about the need to condemn and stop Russian genocidal and ecocidal actions and help Ukraine restore the damages.” — Olga Chevganiuk, Head of International Department at UAnimals

Photographer: Anzhelika Kozachenko

Written by: We Animals

UAnimals team member Vlad (L) holds one of three puppies rescued from the parking lot of a damaged gas station. The puppies have been living with the military and will be evacuated to an animal shelter in another region. Ukraine, 2024.

Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

In May 2024, the UAnimals team undertook a mission to rescue animals from the frontline villages and cities of the Kherson region of Ukraine. They successfully evacuated approximately 40 animals, many given to them by military personnel including dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. Several pregnant cats had given birth just a few hours before the team’s arrival, making the trip even more challenging as they had to quickly transport the newborn kittens to safety.

Sweeper at the beach in Canada. Photo credit: Cindy Hughes.

A pregnant cat being evacuated during the Russia-Ukraine war makes eye contact from her cat carrier. She had lived with the military and is now being transported to an animal shelter in another location. Ukraine, 2024.

Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

A view through the windshield of an animal evacuation van of a destroyed building on the outskirts of a village. The building was destroyed by Russian shelling during the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukraine, 2024.

Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

The team was able to evacuate almost all of the animals, except for those from one frontline village, which they could not reach due to drone attacks. This is the reality of all evacuation trips. Sometimes the situation in frontline regions changes radically within hours and the route has to be changed accordingly. However, all evacuated animals from this trip were successfully transported to shelters or directly to their new families.

A newborn kitten rests in hands of UAnimals evacuation team member Vlad. The kitten was accidentally discovered inside a box in a barn, where his mother had given birth apparently only hours before. Both the kitten and his mother were evacuated. Ukraine, 2024.

Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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“When we were evacuating animals from the city of Kherson, which is close to the frontline, we heard explosions in the distance, probably caused by Russian artillery shooting in the direction of Kherson. However, the local volunteers were not afraid of explosion sounds, they were so used to them. What struck me was that one of the volunteers, who lives in Kherson and evacuates, treats and fosters animals, smiled and was as positive as possible. And that’s all in such scary living conditions. Despite living in constant danger, she, like other volunteers, does as much as possible for stray and abandoned animals. These people are superheroes.” — Anzhelika Kozachenko, UAnimals Volunteer & Photographer

The UAnimals team conducts these weekly missions and evacuates hundreds of animals monthly from Ukraine’s frontline regions. Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, UAnimals has sterilized more than 41,000 homeless animals and evacuated more than 4500 animals from the war zone.

As they transfer to an animal shelter the last of 13 puppies evacuated from a region occupied during the Russia-Ukraine war, shelter volunteer Julia (middle) and UAnimals team members Vlad (L) and Danya (R) discuss the puppies’ shelter accommodation. Ukraine, 2024.

Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

Volunteer Julia holds two puppies of 13 puppies evacuated by UAnimals from an occupied region during the Russia-Ukraine war. The shelter is run by Julia’s mother is caring for the puppies while searching for families to adopt them. Ukraine, 2024.

Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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“I hope more people learn about the evacuation trips organized by UAnimals. Many people still do not know that there is such an amazing organization in Ukraine creating so many projects related to animal rescue and protection. I want more people to discover information about how important these evacuation trips are. I want everyone who comes across this publication to understand that members of the UAnimals team evacuate animals from the frontline areas and take them to safer locations, basically saving their lives while risking their own” — Anzhelika Kozachenko

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German Shepherd Karat looks at the camera while UAnimals rescuer Danya contemplates the best way to transfer him into a dog transport crate for Karat's evacuation as another man looks on from the background. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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A gas station, destroyed by Russian shelling, from which four kittens were rescued and evacuated by the UAnimals team. Located near the frontlines, the area is under constant drone and artillery attacks. The kittens will be transported to an animal shelter in another location. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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A female mother cat looks up from inside a cat carrier. She has lived with military personnel who have taken care of her near the frontline during the Russia-Ukraine war. UAnimals team members are transporting her and her kittens to an animal shelter in another location. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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Rescued puppies excitedly jump up towards UAnimals team member Danya while a volunteer carries a white puppy towards the crate. The puppies are being transported together for transport to another animal evacuation location. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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Animal rescue volunteer Natalia holds one of 10 rescued puppies while UAnimals evacuation team member Danya inspects the puppy for a skin condition and learn of any special care the puppy needs. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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A puppy rescued during the Ukraine-Russia war stands up and rests his paws through the wire of a shelter enclosure. He is one of 10 puppies brought from the frontlines to the shelter by the military and will be evacuated to a shelter in another village. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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UAnimals team member Vlad carries a dog crate that will transport German Shepherd Karat, a rescued dog being evacuated to his new family in another location. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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UAnimals evacuation team member Danya looks out of the frame towards a dog living in an animal shelter. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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A portrait of Natalia, who rescues animals from a region occupied in the Russia-Ukraine war. The region is near the frontline and bombed daily, making Natalia's animal rescue work very dangerous. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

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Three puppies rescued during the Russia-Ukraine war sit closely together inside a dog crate. The puppies have lived with the military near the frontline and are being transported to an animal shelter in a safer region. Ukraine, 2024. Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

Ukraine, 2024.

Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

About UAnimals’ Mission and Work

UAnimals’ mission is to reduce animal suffering and counter the consequences of the environmental destruction caused by Russia’s invasion. Every day, UAnimals evacuates animals from the frontlines, provides medical assistance including a free sterilization program, and rebuilds shelters destroyed by Russian shelling, in addition to conducting global awareness campaigns around the environmental issues Ukraine is facing amid Russia’s occupation.

Learn more about UAnimals’ work.

What can we do to help?

As long as the news is coming from trusted sources, UAnimals encourages people worldwide to help them raise awareness about the ecocide and genocide being committed by Russia in Ukraine. Keeping media dialogue alive and active is crucial for international awareness and support.

Follow UAnimals on social media:

Donate to UAnimals’ open call for specific and general donations.

Join UAnimals’ international community events, including monthly protests.

UAnimals rescuer Danya (L) stands inside an evacuation vehicle car near fellow UAnimals rescuer Vlad (R) while they prepare the vehicle for a trip to an evacuation location. Ukraine, 2024.

Anzhelika Kozachenko / UAnimals / We Animals

Photographer: Anzhelika Kozachenko

Written by: We Animals

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