Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused immense suffering to the civilian population. are believed to have been killed, though an exact figure is impossible to know. Russia’s aggression has also sparked the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war, with fleeing Ukraine since February 2022.
Author
Iryna Skubii
Mykola Zerov Fellow in Ukrainian Studies, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne
What has received far less attention has been the impact of the war on the country’s animal population.
With an occupied by Russian forces, . Some biologists believe have been killed, though verifying this has proved to be .
Given the destruction to natural landscapes and wildlife, Ukrainian authorities have case against Russia based on “” – unlawful attacks on the environment that can lead to long-term impact on ecosystems and wildlife.
As for domestic animals, there were approximately in Ukraine before the war. Many have been killed or abandoned by their owners, causing the stray population to explode.
In response, many have to help shelter and treat wounded animals.
When Russia launched a new offensive in the Kharkiv region , for instance, local authorities and volunteers leapt into action to try to evacuate pets left behind, some locked in cages or chained in yards, others roaming free.
Many Ukrainians fleeing the country, meanwhile, have taken their pets with them, as the only remaining .
Animal refugees and evacuation efforts
Within days of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, were being circulated to residents on how to prepare to evacuate with their pets in tow.
For those fleeing abroad, animals were initially allowed to pass through borders . The regulations were tightened again, however, after a fierce debate over the , given the prevalence of rabies in Ukraine.
Although it is hard to provide an exact number of refugee animals, in 2022 alone, more than are believed to have crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border. Some pets later came back to Ukraine with their owners, while others stayed in Europe or were moved further around the globe.
Among them was my cat Tyhra, a female cat named after her tiger-coloured fur (tyhr means tiger in Ukrainian), who was evacuated in September 2022 from the Kharkiv region. Her story is unique, as she was initially taken to Canada, and recently relocated with me to Australia.
A few of the more fortunate animals have even become social media celebrities. A cat named Stepan, whose fame on Instagram (with ), for example, helped its owners to escape from Kharkiv to Monaco when it was intensively shelled in early 2022.
And in June 2023, when Russia’s army destroyed the , an image of a hugging the leg of a man went viral, becoming a vivid illustration of how the war has affected Ukraine’s animals.
After the dam was blown up, asked people to take their pets with them if possible, and if not, to “untie them and let them go. Give them a chance to save themselves.”
Evacuating animals from the frontline is not enough. It is becoming even more important to provide those who have been abandoned with accommodation and food.
Most . And in some cities and villages near the frontline, the is becoming a major problem.
Animals and the army
Some of the cats and dogs that have been left in the combat zone have even become “active members” of the Ukrainian army. Many were rescued by soldiers from abandoned houses or after their owners had been killed in the fighting.
Cats are particularly valued for their skills in preventing the in trenches. Cats are also excellent for – so much so, they’ve been called “Ukraine’s secret weapon”.
Trained dogs, meanwhile, are adept in demining. One of the most widely known examples is the (which means bullet or cartridge in Ukrainian). After the Chernihiv region was liberated in 2022, Patron became a celebrity for his skills in .
Livestock become targets
The fate of livestock is much grimmer. Many barns, for example, have become direct targets of Russian army shelling and missiles.
In March 2022, for example, the Russian army as they advanced in the Chernihiv region. Later that year, a missile strike and injured a dozen and a half in another village in the region.
Earlier this year, a dairy industry figure that some 200,000 cows in total had been killed.
And at a chicken factory in the Kherson region – then the biggest in Europe – died when the feeding system was disabled due to the destruction of a nearby power station.
There are many more tragic stories like these about the ecological toll of the war across the entire frontline area of Ukraine.
And despite the efforts being made in Ukraine and on the international level to help these animals, they still remain in dire need of care and protection.
Iryna Skubii does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
