UAnimals Covered the Treatment Costs for Animals Rescued by Ukrainian Soldiers

On the front line, Ukrainian soldiers save more than just people. They rescue injured and abandoned animals from combat zones, feed them, care for them, and often keep them by their side or help them find new homes. But when an animal needs complex veterinary care — such as surgery after shelling, an MRI scan, or long-term rehabilitation — the cost is often beyond what soldiers can afford on their own.

That is why UAnimals regularly supports military personnel by covering the treatment costs for the animals they rescue and take into their care. Most recently, we helped 34 animals, paying for surgeries, medication, hospitalization, and other veterinary services.

This was made possible thanks to more than 2,600 donors who supported our “Fundraiser for the Treatment of Animals Cared for by Soldiers, 7.0”, raising UAH 601,322. Together with the remaining funds from previous campaigns, we allocated more than UAH 603,000 to give these animals a second chance. Behind every number is a real story that began in the trenches and ended in safety.

Who did we help?

One of the animals we supported was Ihoriok, a four-month-old puppy. A Ukrainian soldier found him on the roadside near Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region. The puppy was unable to stand because of severe pelvic and femur fractures. Thanks to the fundraiser, we covered his X-rays, medication, and extended stay at a veterinary hospital. Today, Ihoriok has made a full recovery, walks again, and has found a loving family.

From the same frontline area, another soldier evacuated Liusia and her eight newborn puppies under shelling. More than UAH 61,000 was spent on their veterinary care, nursing, Liusia’s dental surgery, and sterilization. Liusia and one of her puppies have already found new homes.

The calico cat Kira lived alongside Ukrainian soldiers in the Kharkiv region. UAnimals provided a carrier to evacuate her safely and covered her entire veterinary bill, including diagnostic tests, treatment, and microchipping. In the end, Kira was adopted by a foreign volunteer who fought alongside Ukrainian defenders and had cared for her on the frontline.

Sadly, not every story had a happy ending. Marsik, a cat rescued by soldiers after being injured in a guided aerial bomb attack, underwent complex surgery to remove shrapnel from his chest. Despite the veterinarians’ efforts, he suffered a stroke caused by severe blast trauma and shock, and they were unable to save him.

In addition to Ihoriok, Liusia, Kira, and Marsik, this fundraiser covered examinations, medication, and surgeries for 30 more animals under the care of Ukrainian soldiers. You can read the full report, including the stories of Murzyk, Godzilla, Lilitka, Viktoriia, Elsa, Frida, and many others, on our website.

Meanwhile, the work of rescuing animals never stops — and neither does the work of UAnimals. Since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, together we have helped more than 720,000 animals.

Please support our work by donating to the UAnimals fundraising projects that matters most to you. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps save lives.

Photo: Ryzhik the cat, whom we helped as part of a fundraiser for the medical treatment of animals cared for by military personnel, 7.0.