What's the problem?
Every day, Russia's war leaves hundreds of animals without a home or protection. Hungry, frightened, and often injured, they wait. And with every day that passes without help, their chances of survival shrink.
According to Ukrainian law, local communities are responsible for stray animals found within their territory. It's the local authorities who are supposed to build shelters and take other necessary measures. In reality, mostly volunteer and nonprofit organizations handle the evacuation and care of animals today.
What's the solution?
Since there are no nationwide government programs yet, ordinary Ukrainian citizens have stepped in to save the animals. Volunteers, community groups, schools, local governments, foundations, and even businesses collaborate, and their efforts yield tangible results.
Volunteers drive to villages near the front lines, risking their lives to bring animals to safety. They create "rescue corridors" for those with paws — evacuating, treating, feeding, and finding new homes for them.
How does it work?
Homeless World: Animals didn't choose this war, but we choose to save them
Part of the team. Photo: Homeless World
The Homeless World charity foundation is a group of caring people who came together in 2019 to protect and rescue injured animals and those suffering from cruelty. Today, it's a center that rescues, evacuates, and rehabilitates animals brought from front-line and occupied areas.
For the third year in a row, their work has focused on the Kherson region, where the team carries out large-scale evacuations from the most dangerous zones. The rescue center currently shelters over 700 dogs and cats at any given time. However, that's only part of the story — since the start of the full-scale war, volunteers have helped more than 2,000 animals, including horses, pigs, wild animals such as foxes, hedgehogs, birds, and even swans.
"Every time, we only worry about one thing — whether we'll make it in time to get them to safety. Sometimes we have to give first aid during shelling," says Oleksii Zhurba, head of the foundation.
First aid for animals often happens in field conditions. Photo: Homeless World
Reia. Photo: Homeless World
Reia, a shepherd from the village of Kizomys, lost her owners to a Russian strike. She didn't run or hide — she just sat quietly in the ruins of her yard. To reach her, volunteers had to walk 12 kilometers on foot, since cars weren't allowed into the area. Reia refused to move. They had to carry her in their arms, risking being seen.
By some miracle, they made it out. Reia was brought to the center, examined, vaccinated, treated for parasites, and given everything she needed. Now she's safe, slowly recovering, and waiting for a new family to come along.
Another dog, Kanibasia, was saved during the flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. She was stranded on a tiny island, cut off from the rest of the world. To survive, she had to fight off other dogs — hunger had made her desperate. When rescuers found her, she was weak and aggressive. Today, she's completely different: loyal and gentle with everyone who visits her kennel.
Hraf, a 13-year-old German Shepherd, was also rescued after the dam explosion. He was found barely alive, suffering from kidney failure and late-stage cancer.
He's been living at the center for two years now. Despite his diagnosis, he remains active, kind to people, loves taking walks, and brings warmth to everyone around him.
"Every paw we save is a small victory over the war"
Oleksii Zhurba with his rescued animals. Photo: Homeless World
Puppy Busik. Photo: Homeless World
Despite the horrors they've endured — injuries, trauma, even amputations — many animals eventually find homes and people who love them. They no longer flinch from a human touch. They believe in people again.
Among them is Busik, a puppy born to the sound of air raid sirens. Volunteers found his mother, Bahira, while she was still pregnant with him. Now Busik lives without fear — in a new home, held safely in the arms of a soldier who adopted him.
Pania the cat. Photo: Homeless World
And Pania, a cat with a spinal injury, has been a longtime resident of the center. He needed special care, and he found it. A veterinary student doing her internship at the center decided to take him home. Now he has a new life, and she has a devoted friend.
"We're constantly involving volunteers, caring people, schools, and communities," says Oleksii Zhurba. "Some help with their hands — brushing, walking, cleaning. Others bring food, medicine, or donate money. The most powerful thing is personal connection: the story of one rescued animal inspires more than any slogan. And we've seen that after three years of war, Ukrainians haven't become more indifferent — the opposite. Many have discovered the strength to help."
You, too, can support the Homeless World Rescue, Evacuation, and Rehabilitation Center. They're looking for animal catchers, drivers, veterinarians, vet nurses, caretakers, cleaners, dog trainers, boiler operators, kennel builders, photographers, and social media specialists. Phone for interviews: +380977201542
Save Animals Ukraine Movement: always there when animals need help
A ginger cat sits by a makeshift stove that people used to heat food and water. Bakhmut, November 2022. Photo: Serhii Ludenskyi
The Save Animals Ukraine rescue movement began its work in March 2022, starting with a center in Dnipro that distributed free pet food to families who had fled the front lines. As more requests came in from people still living in front-line towns and newly liberated areas, asking for help rescuing abandoned and wounded animals, the volunteers expanded their work to include animal evacuation.
Today, the organization primarily operates in the Donetsk region, but volunteers have also conducted missions in the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions.
"It's most dangerous now in the Donetsk region. But because of how quickly the front shifts, we get more requests from there," explains Serhii Ludenskyi, head of Save Animals Ukraine, in an interview with Rubryka. "Drivers either refuse to take animals or charge enormous fees. We organize evacuations of animals, and often people, every Sunday."
Serhii says that many people contact the organization after they've already fled their homes but were forced to leave their pets behind. Volunteers then go to the address, following whatever directions or landmarks they can get, and attempt to locate the animal — on the streets, in yards, in fields, or inside abandoned houses and apartments.
Local volunteers play a massive role in this work. They are familiar with the city's situation and the stories of the animals that were left behind. They tell rescuers where to look, and sometimes even join the search. Thanks to such caring people, the team manages to save many lives.
Serhii Ludenskyi with his "Donbas trophy," a dachshund named Filia. Photo: Save Animals Ukraine
"Near Chasiv Yar, I went to rescue a dachshund," Serhii recalls. "A shell had hit the house where he lived. The couple who owned him was injured and taken to the hospital, but somehow the dog survived. We found Filia the day after the strike and later found him a home."
Between danger and hope
As of mid-September 2025, the Save Animals Ukraine team had evacuated 3,129 animals and delivered nearly 100,000 kilograms of food — both for animals in front-line zones and for those cared for by Ukrainian soldiers.
Behind every rescue mission is a team of 20 volunteers — mostly young people, many of whom have relocated to Dnipro due to the war. Some handle social media and communications, others distribute food at the center, and others head out on evacuation missions.
The process begins with reviewing all incoming requests. Then, the team plans the evacuation route. The van is loaded with everything needed: animal carriers, food, leashes, muzzles, medicine, water, and small packages for locals and soldiers. After refueling, the team sets off on its mission.
Delivering pet food for animals cared for by soldiers. Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region. Photo: Save Animals Ukraine
One of the most challenging aspects of these trips is the lack of reliable communication — it's almost impossible to confirm details or coordinate quickly. Despite this, there have been times when, just a week after rescuers visited, the villages they'd worked in were occupied. That happened in Shevchenko, Kalynove, Halytsynivka, Novohrodivka, and Kurakhove.
Every trip carries the risk of shelling. More than once, volunteers have been saved by pure luck or intuition. Serhii recalls a few close calls in the Donetsk region:
"Once, I overslept and left half an hour late. When we finally reached Pokrovsk, we saw that a rocket had hit the road we were supposed to drive — just 20 or 30 minutes earlier. The ground was still wet from the blast," he says. "Another time, in Chasiv Yar, I suddenly decided to speed up, and three seconds later, a mortar shell hit right behind us. If I hadn't accelerated, the story might've ended very differently. Things like that happen often — as if something or someone is watching over us."
The best way to help volunteers is to adopt or shelter rescued animals
Like every animal rescue team, Save Animals Ukraine faces its biggest challenge after evacuation — finding homes for the animals they save. Cases where pets are reunited with their original owners are, sadly, rare.
Still, the organization has stories with happy endings. One man was seriously injured by shrapnel while trying to rescue people from a burning building in the town of Rodynske (Pokrovsk community). Tragically, none of the residents survived the massive Russian airstrike. The man was taken to a hospital in Dnipro, while his wife and parents escaped to another village, bringing with them two dogs and six cats.
When he was discharged, the couple managed to find housing in the Dnipropetrovsk region — a place big enough for everyone. The very next day, Save Animals Ukraine evacuated all their pets to join them, and soon after, the man's parents arrived too.
Some rescued animals are transferred to volunteers and partner groups who specialize in rehoming and transporting them abroad.
Though they don't keep exact numbers, Serhii estimates that around 1,700 animals have already found new homes. Yet, every day, the number of abandoned animals who wait for families of their own continues to grow.
"First, there's the issue of irresponsible pet ownership, especially in villages," says Serhii Ludenskyi. "People don't sterilize their pets, and the population grows exponentially. Of course, the war forces many to leave their homes. But some still treat animals like objects — they might even leave them chained up to die of hunger."
Despite that, Serhii tries to approach people with understanding, knowing how difficult it can be to find housing that allows pets, especially large dogs.
"It's sad that some still live in their own little bubble, as if the war is happening 'somewhere else.' I have a joke about this — landlords or real estate agents who refuse to rent apartments to people with pets will end up in hell after they die. They'll have their own special boiler with clean rugs because that's what they care about most: spotless carpets. They don't see the value in someone who's lost their home, their memories, their whole life, but still managed to save their animal friend," Serhii says.
In the summer of 2024, Save Animals Ukraine opened a temporary housing center for evacuated animals called Leroy Shelter, which takes in dogs rescued from the Donetsk region.
The shelter only has 18 kennels, so it can't accommodate everyone who needs peace, care, and a gentle touch. To help animals find homes more quickly, the team created a Telegram channel for lost and found pets and adoptions — it now has nearly 7,000 subscribers.
"Give someone a chance for happiness — adopt from a shelter!" Photo: Save Animals Ukraine
The organization also hosted a series of stand-up comedy nights to raise funds for city shelters. They started dog-handling clubs for schoolchildren, and every year, they organize "Hav Hav Fest" ("Woof Woof Fest") in Dnipro — an event that teaches kids and adults how to interact with dogs safely and kindly.
"We're always grateful for support — whether it's spreading the word or donating," says Serhii. "And I want to ask all Ukrainians: please, don't forget about your animal friends. Don't abandon them. If you can, take an animal from a shelter into your home and give them a new family."
Serhii also encourages people and organizations to feed stray animals, just as he and his partners do. One of their projects, called "Zoo Center Feeders," sets up feeding stations for stray animals in front-line cities across Ukraine. There are already 45 feeders and seven partner stations, all of which are marked on an interactive map, allowing anyone to help refill them.
A feeding station in the Donetsk region. Photo: Serhii Ludenskyi
Anyone in Ukraine or abroad can support Save Animals Ukraine:
- By donating to Monobank, PayPal, or Patreon
- By joining the team. Please fill out an application form
- The Animal Help Center also invites businesses to help expand Leroy Shelter, so volunteers can take in more animals. The organization also plans to host a photo exhibition titled "Evacuation of Life" dedicated to people who save those who can't save themselves. To support the shelter or the exhibition, message the team on Instagram or Facebook, or call +380957168262.
- Another way to help is by joining the effort to build a database of helpful contacts — those who handle animal evacuations or can provide shelter for them. "We send this list to people who need to evacuate animals. It makes their search a little easier," Serhii explains.
He adds that the war isn't over. That's why rescuing animals remains so important. "Animals aren't 'property' — they're lives. You can't just abandon them."
Two stories of personal kindness
Kateryna Bulvinova with Arbuzia, a cat rescued from the Kherson region. Photo courtesy of Kateryna
Kateryna Bulvinova is from Dnipro. In June 2023, when the Russians blew up the Kakhovka Dam, she saw a message in a local chat saying that volunteers from Save Animals Ukraine would be bringing rescued animals to one of the local clinics that evening.
She says that at that moment, she had no plans to take in another animal — she and her partner already had three cats. They bought some food and went to the clinic together to offer whatever help they could.
Kateryna Bulvinova is helping wash dishes and bowls for the evacuation of animals. Photo courtesy of Kateryna
"A van arrived, and we quickly started unloading the animals. The cats and dogs were terrified — all wet, stressed, and clinging to each other. While I was carrying cages, my boyfriend picked up a little black cat. When I saw the way he looked at her, I couldn't resist either. That's how the three of us ended up going home together," Kateryna recalls.
They named the cat Arbuzia — after watermelons, the symbol of her native region. Despite some early health issues, she's now doing great.
"Now I have another beloved pet I can't imagine living without," Kateryna says. She deeply admires people who dedicate themselves to saving those who can't help themselves.
"At the national level, I would completely ban pet breeding during wartime. Or I'd impose a heavy tax and direct that money to shelters. And those so-called 'owners' who just abandon their pets or don't sterilize them should face fines — people need to start taking at least some responsibility," Kateryna says firmly.
She calls on people to rent out their housing to displaced persons with pets and adopt cats and dogs that have suffered due to the war.
Dog Petrovych right after the evacuation. Photo courtesy of Olha Viter
And this is Petrovych. This Yorkshire terrier was rescued in Kostiantynivka by soldiers from the 93rd Brigade, who vaccinated him and registered him with a passport.
A permanent home for Petrovych was found in Kyiv — he was adopted by Olha Viter, an evacuation manager with the organization UAnimals. Olha and her family are originally from the town of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia region, and came to the capital during the war.
Olha first became involved in animal evacuations in 2022, when her hometown found itself on the front line.
"At that time, Orikhiv was left without electricity, water, or gas. I started looking for shelters that could take in abandoned animals and asking evacuation teams for help," Olha recalls.
That's how she got to know the volunteer groups Save Animals Ukraine and UAnimals. Her compassion evolved into ongoing cooperation with rescuers who help evacuate cats and dogs from the most intense combat zones.
"Last September, a message came into the Save Animals group chat. A colleague said some soldiers had found puppies in a dumpster. One puppy was adopted in Druzhkivka, and the soldiers kept the other at their position. When the unit was moved to another area, we started looking for a new family for the second one," Olha says.
At first, she planned to take Petrovych in only temporarily, since the family already had a cat. But just a few hours later, she realized she could never give him away.
"When I was a kid, I dreamed of having a Yorkie, and fate just brought him to me," Olha smiles.
Olha Viter with her Yorkie, Petrovych. Photo courtesy of Olha Viter
That's how Petrovych became part of the family — a dog who turned out to be not just a friend, but a real source of emotional support. "For the first two months, I cried over him — it was like having another little child. But now I can't imagine life without him. He's my antidepressant, my therapy," Olha shares.
Today, Olha continues coordinating animal evacuations. During her conversation with Rubryka, she keeps getting phone calls. She says there are currently many evacuation requests from the Dnipropetrovsk region — people weren't prepared for how quickly the front was moving, and there are so many abandoned animals.
Olha stresses that rescuers often end up helping not only the animals but also the people. "Many people stay under shelling simply because they can't leave their pets behind. And yet some evacuation teams still don't allow cats or dogs. I find that barbaric — they're family members," she says, shaken.
She remembers how, at the start of the full-scale invasion, she fled to Poland with her child and her cat, whom she carried in an ordinary handbag.
"I could have left the cat with my husband, but I couldn't. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring, and she could have ended up alone," Olha says.
She adds that she has never seen any government support for people with animals, so even now, they have to find housing or temporary shelter on their own.
"Right now, even people without pets have nowhere to go — many live in temporary shelters. In Dnipro, I heard that people were even sleeping outside. And with animals, it's almost impossible. Even in villages with simple houses, you often hear, 'No, we don't take dogs.' And it hurts because these animals aren't guilty of anything."
