On May 7, 2024, UAnimals launched its own media outlet. For a year now, UAnimals Media has been exploring and reporting on environmental protection and animal welfare topics in a journalistic format.
“It’s been a year of experimentation. We tried a wide range of textual formats to convey an important message: nature is fragile and must be protected from war and human cruelty,” says UAnimals Media editor-in-chief Katia Nikishova. The online publication covers legal and biological aspects of animal welfare, environmental damage during wartime, the work of animal rescue volunteers, and other related topics.
The most-read piece so far is an undercover report from Zviropolis. A journalist interned at a petting zoo and described the conditions there. Following the publication, UAnimals’ legal team filed a lawsuit demanding the recognition of the Zviropolis chain of petting zoos as operating illegally and calling for the confiscation of wild animals. The court case is ongoing.
An investigation into the links between the Nemo dolphinarium network and Russia prompted UAnimals lawyers to file a complaint with Ukraine’s Security Service. In October, the Primorsky District Court of Odesa found Nemo’s director, Anatolii Solontsov, guilty of collaborationism. This investigation was conducted jointly by UAnimals Media and OSINT agency Molfar in June 2024.
At the end of 2024, two of the outlet’s publications received awards at the “Spivprostir” journalism competition dedicated to environmental and animal topics. Danylo Bumatsenko’s report on the restoration of Hetmansky National Park after occupation won the Grand Prix, while Nataliia Pendur’s story about a veterinary mission in Kharkiv region took second place.
The media outlet has received many grateful responses to an article on how to cope with the loss of a pet. “In wartime, many people experience loss, and we felt it was important to support them professionally. That’s why we involved a psychotherapist in developing the article,” Katia Nikishova explains.
One of the most important publications, in Katia’s opinion, is a column by publisher Yulia Slyvka on nurturing compassion in children. This piece may also be discussed at the UAnimals Media Club — a series of offline gatherings created to bring together the outlet’s community of readers. “Let’s stay together, stay aware, and care for the world we live in,” the editor-in-chief urges.
We invite you to explore UAnimals Media — beyond the publications mentioned, there are many more fascinating and timely materials for anyone interested in animals and the environment. And be sure to follow the media’s page on Threads — that’s where we keep in touch with our loyal readers.
Photo — UAnimals Media Club (discussion meetings about media content) in Lviv
Photo by: Roksolana Vazhynska
