Animal Welfare in Ukraine – Every Life Matters

15.04.25

In 2017, I arrived for the first time in Kyiv to open discussions with the police and government about offering training on why crimes against animals were important and how they interconnect with human welfare. These conversations led to a training programme that has now spanned seven years and 13 cities across Ukraine, providing me with many memories and hopefully helping animals and vulnerable people along the way.

In this blog, I’d like to highlight four moments that meant a great deal to me.

1. The certificate

In 2018, I started the training project on Khreshchatyk Street, Kyiv, the main street in the capital. I spent three days working with the police, animal welfare groups and government officials. At one point, I sealed off the main building from interested onlookers, having staged an ‘animal crime scene’ of a suspected dog poisoning case to be investigated.

At the end of the police event, I was presented with a certificate that still stands proudly on my desk. At this time, few people in the UK knew much of Ukraine, and I had to explain to many how I had found myself on this project. The answer was that Naturewatch Foundation had already been in the country for over 20 years and our collaboration meant we could reach patrol police officers and investigators here.

I met some good friends here too and my journey in Ukraine had officially begun.

2. The vyshyvanka

This is seen as Ukrainian national dress. Historically, vyshyvankas were a staple in the wardrobes of both men and women across Ukrainian villages, each region showcasing unique and distinct variations. Today, they are predominantly donned during national holidays and celebratory occasions. Ukrainians deeply appreciate seeing foreigners donning vyshyvankas as a gesture of respect and solidarity.

During one of my training visits to Chernivsti, on the western side of the country, I was given my own vyshyvanka.

3. The 2025 awards

In March 2025, it was a huge honour to be asked to be one of the jury members to decide the winners of the 2025 Ukrainian Animal Protection Awards.

At the awards, held in Kyiv, UAnimals honoured animal rights defenders who consistently and regularly help animals in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Animal Protection Award is an opportunity to recognise and highlight the work of people who dedicate their time, love, and even risk their lives to help animals and protect the environment.

This year’s winners were:

Alina Ostapenko – an animal volunteer, a member of Sumy Animal Home, Sumy.
Anastasiia Klimniuk – an animal volunteer, the founder and the head of the NGO Animal House Rescue, Kharkiv, Poltava region.
Olena Rusina – an animal volunteer, the founder and head of the Society for Help Horses Pegasus, Dnipropetrovsk region.
Olha Volkova – the head of NGO Souls of a Tramps, Mykolaiv region.
Serhii Ludenskyi – an animal volunteer, the founder and the head of the NGO Save Animals Ukraine, Dnipro.
Olena Voshun – an animal volunteer, the founder and the head of the charity foundation Chance of Life, Dnipropetrovsk region.
Aliona Hrinnyk – the founder of the NGO Give a Paw YU, Mykolaiv region.
Tetiana Nelha – an animal volunteer, the founder of the charity fund Zoofamily, Kirovohrad region.
Viktoriia Zhydkova – an animal volunteer, the founder of Virnist animal protection society and of the NGO Human Rights Initiative, Donetsk region.
Inna Borodulia – an animal volunteer, the founder and head of the CSO Happy Cat, Zaporizhzhia.

Posthumous awards were given to volunteers Rymma Baranenko and Kostiantyn Yuzviuk:

Rymma Baranenko cared for stray animals in Kherson. She was killed on December 1, 2024, when a drone dropped an explosive device on a public bus.
Kostiantyn Yuzviuk, call sign “Istanbul,” fought with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia area. Before joining the military, Kostiantyn helped evacuate animals from frontline areas, sometimes with the UAnimals team. He also helped find homes for the animals. He was killed on July 18, 2024, at the age of 23.

I would like to share one of the stories about a volunteer.

“The owner of a shelter, Olha, has been rescuing animals in the Mykolaiv region for over 13 years. Her shelter currently houses around 130 animals, including cats and dogs. When the frontline came dangerously close to her town, Olha evacuated all her animals to a safe location but later returned. A missile struck near her shelter, destroying many enclosures and killing several dogs. Since then, she has rebuilt everything and improved conditions for the animals.

According to those who nominated her, Olha was also attacked by dog hunters [people killing stray dogs] who attempted to kill her, leaving her disabled, yet she continues saving animals.

The shelter now has excellent conditions, including warm enclosures, a surgical unit, a quarantine area, and a separate section for elderly and infirm animals.

Besides cats and dogs, the shelter is also home to hedgehogs, fish, and a raccoon.”

One of the comments from those who nominated her:

“Three men broke into her house and, for reasons unknown, began killing the animals. Olha fought back, defending them and refusing to let them be killed. As a result, she suffered multiple injuries and fractures, including a skull fracture. It was a miracle she survived. She managed to drive them away but then spent four months in the hospital. Even while hospitalised, she continued her volunteer work, coordinating help through her phone and loved ones.

Another story was when Mykolaiv was encircled, there was no food left for the animals, and what remained had gone bad. They drove through the outskirts to find some food for the animals. They packed their car full and were driving through the fields, where they suddenly hit a mine, the car blew up. It was yet another series of trials, but they overcame it despite everything.”

4. The sparrow

Back in 2018, I was travelling through Odesa on the Black Sea after police training and sat down for coffee (and some Ukrainian cake…) when a sparrow joined me. I spent some time feeding the sparrow and reflected on the opportunities that Naturewatch Foundation had offered me with this work.