Olympic champion Mahuchikh donates over $20,000 to protect animals in Ukraine

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, an Olympic champion and track and field athlete, donated a portion of her prize money from the 2024 Paris Games to animal rights activists in Ukraine.

Rubryka reports this.

"We are tremendously thankful to Yaroslava for her act of kindness. Thanks to her, thousands of animals will have access to medicine, food, and a cozy place to rest. Additionally, we appreciate her willingness to speak up about animal welfare and bring awareness to a wider audience on this important matter.

We aspire to see a future where helping animals is a regular and natural occurrence in Ukrainian society, and it is influential voices like Yaroslava Mahuchikh's that bring this moment closer," Liudmyla Smoliar, head of the UAnimals communications department, said.

In total, the athlete donated a million hryvnias [over 20,000 USD – ed.]. The money went to the animal rescue and environmental organization UAnimals and four animal shelters:

• "Pegasus"
• "Sumy Society for the Protection of Animals",
• "Homeless world",
• "Dnipro Animals".

"Currently, there is a high number of stray animals in Ukraine, and shelters require assistance to care for each one properly. In addition to providing financial aid and offering to volunteer, individuals can give a loving home by adopting animals from verified shelters without any restriction on the breed.

My cat is also outbred from a shelter, but he is the best in the world and my favorite jumper. So, if you can save an animal, save it!" Yaroslava Mahuchikh said.

Earlier, Yaroslava Mahuchikh announced on her Instagram that she would be using a portion of her prize money to:

• support the needs of Ukraine's armed forces;
• contribute to a psychological support fund;
• and assist animals impacted by the ongoing war.

"Today I have the opportunity to thank my team, Ukrainians, and defenders for my training and support on the way to Olympic gold," the athlete wrote.

"But I also consider it a true and fair decision to thank my team, which prepared me for this medal for more than one Olympic cycle at the age of 4 and invested in me from the first day of my path in athletics.

Money is nothing compared to what we went through with the team. And nothing compared to how much the armed forces and volunteers do for us so that we live in an independent and free country. And if I can use it [money – ed.] in this way, I will do that," Yaroslava summed up.

For reference:

It should be noted that Olha Kharlan, a two-time Olympic champion, has generously donated the saber she used to make the winning shot during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris team tournament to a charity auction. The proceeds from the auction will be used to purchase ShaBlia automated turrets.

On August 13, the Ukrainian teams for kayaking, canoeing, freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, weightlifting, synchronized swimming, and fencing arrived at Kyiv's Central Railway Station. The 2024 Olympics participants and medalists returned to Ukraine and were greeted by their loved ones, friends, and fans.