In a world where ruins have become commonplace, and pain and fear overshadow everything else, there are those who cannot ask for help but need it so desperately. These are our smaller brothers—four-legged furry friends—who are left face to face with the war. In these difficult times, animal shelters become symbols of hope and humanity. Each rescued soul is a story of pain, struggle, and victory, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, there is still room for goodness.

In times when war is changing everything around us, we often forget about those left out of the picture, who also endure immense hardship. Our smaller brothers, left behind in the ruins of their homes, suffer from relentless shelling, hunger, and cold. Amid the destruction of war, there are people ready to become the voice for those who silently scream in pain. Their hearts beat in the same rhythm as these animals.

Each Saved Soul is a Separate Universe

A well-known shelter for pets and predatory animals in the Dnipro region, “Pegasus”, has become a true refuge for many four-legged creatures. Each saved soul is a small victory over the cruelty and indifference of the world.

The founder of the shelter, Olena Rusina, starts her day with hope. Every morning, for her, is another chance to give life to those who have lost everything. “We do not choose whom to save; we help everyone who needs it,” she says, recalling dozens of heart-wrenching stories. The shelter operates around the clock because war leaves no time for rest. Sometimes it feels like the very walls of the shelter are “soaked” with love and compassion for its inhabitants.

Olena shares that her love for animals has been in her heart since childhood. She believes that the ability to empathize with and help animals is a special gift from God. Every day, the shelter takes in dozens of animals crippled by war and human indifference. Each brings with it a universe of suffering that is hard to forget.

Sometimes it seems like it all started with accidental rescues, but as Ms. Olena says, such coincidences are never meaningless. “I just kept rescuing one after another until I realized that these animals had become a part of my life,” she shares. These wounded souls filled her home, which later turned into a full-fledged shelter—becoming a final refuge for those who needed warmth the most.

The volunteer recalls the day when two tiny puppies, survivors of a bombing, arrived at the shelter. “Their tiny bodies trembled, but their eyes searched for hope,” she says. Since then, they have become her “little angels,” symbols that even the most defenseless deserve a chance at life.

Once, a horse that had survived heavy shelling was brought to the shelter. During the evacuation, it had to be led through ruined fields where danger lurked at every step. “The war has made us stronger, but at the same time, it has shown us how vulnerable we are. That’s why we try to give these animals the very best we can,” says Olena Rusina. These animals are living symbols of resilience and courage, teaching us to love and empathize without limits.

Thanks to the support of philanthropists and organizations like UAnimals and Humane Society International, the shelter managed to build a specialized hospital for horses. This place is more than just a treatment center—it’s a real haven for those who have endured unimaginable trials.

When the mare Lyubasha was brought here, she could barely breathe due to chronic pneumonia. Now, with the help of the hospital’s ventilation system, she can breathe freely without fear for her life.

Another mare, Kamila from Lysychansk, suffered a severe injury when a rocket fragment damaged her tendons. While this injury will stay with her for life, the shelter has created conditions where she can walk without pain. “Every step these animals take is a step towards a life without suffering,” Olena says.

At  “Pegasus”, they understand that finding a new home for an animal is not easy, but they always strive to give their wards a chance at a real family. The war has complicated the adoption process, but the shelter’s staff remains undeterred. They organize campaigns and spread information to ensure that anyone wishing to provide a home for an animal knows it is possible.

Life at “Pegasus” is sustained solely through the support of compassionate individuals willing to help, even from afar. Financial contributions, food, medicines, and warm materials for bedding—all these are essential for the shelter’s existence. Sometimes it feels like any help is a fragment of kindness that fills every gap.

“We are grateful for every letter, every small contribution people send us,” says Olena. “Each one gives us faith in goodness and helps us continue saving every life.” Here, everyone who is ready to give not only money but also a piece of their soul contributes. Every day, volunteers fight for the lives and health of those who have been left without a home or protection. Each day, every team member fulfills their own small mission—giving animals the chance to see the light in the darkness.

A Teacher Turned Hero: fighting for the lives of hundreds of animals

Maryna Shazhko, a former English teacher from Bakhmut, never imagined of becoming a hero for hundreds of helpless creatures. But life had other plans, and today she is not just a teacher but a guardian angel for animals that no one else could save.

Her story began with saving a stray dog during a campaign to cull strays in her city. Maryna patrolled the streets in the morning when many people were still sleeping. She knew that these raids took place twice a week, and she was afraid that one day she would not be able to save her a favorite. And then, one day, she saw the same car pulling up to her street… Marina jumped out into the street, waving her arms and shouting to stop them. She managed to get the dog away. She managed to save the dog that time, but that day became a turning point for her: she realized she could no longer stand aside.

Maryna and her friend Olga founded a public organization and began to fight for the lives of animals. That single act of compassion changed everything. Despite exhaustion, bureaucracy, and even power outages, they never stopped. Every day, they raised funds for surgeries, treatment, and food, patrolled the streets, and did not give up even when the power was cut off in their shelter. They fed and treated the animals, using flashlights to illuminate themselves, and never gave up. And when their patience ran out, Maryna organized a protest with a hundred dogs in front of the city hall. An hour after the protest started the lights were turned back on in the shelter.

And then a full-scale invasion broke out. At that time, Marina’s shelter in Bakhmut has already had 160 animals. She couldn’t even think about evacuating because she had nowhere to go with them. But in August, one of the explosions hit the shelter directly. Two dogs were killed, and Maryna realized she had to act. She found an old farm in the Dnipro region, called the owner and asked for an opportunity to move. Maryna promised that she would pay the rent and did not back down from her decision, even when everyone around her said it was too difficult. In September, her team evacuated the animals at great risk.

They arrived at a new shelter in the Dnipro region, where there were no dishes for feeding them or water bowls. But local residents came to the rescue – some brought old pots and pans, others brought sheets to insulate the floor. These first months were difficult, but thanks to the support of the community and charitable foundations, Maryna was able to provide the dogs with everything they needed.

When asked why she does this, the animal rights activist just smiles: “I would have chosen this path anyway. Because every life we manage to save is worth all our efforts”. Her words make us think that even the darkest moments can be filled with light when we have faith and love.

Saving those who no longer hoped for a miracle

Serhii Ludenskyi, an animal volunteer from Dnipro, works with his team to rescue animals from war-torn areas. During the Kherson evacuation after the Kakhovka dam disaster, they saved hundreds of animals trapped in flooded homes. “The hardest part was seeing the hopelessness in their eyes, they slowly give up. Their eyes were full of horror, but when we approached, they would get that subtle glimmer of hope”, Serhii says. The team of volunteers not only pulls animals out of the water and flames, but also gives them back the hope they have lost.

Every day, Serhii and his volunteers rescue animals in the hottest spots of the country. During the full-scale invasion, they evacuated more than 2000 animals, including during the “Kherson operation” when volunteers from different parts of Ukraine together with Serhii rescued about 1500 of them. They become the only salvation for the four-legged ones. Serhii Ludenskyi organized the Assistance Center to make life easier for IDPs and their animals in Dnipro city. Today, the Center is a real shelter and a symbol of hope for those who cannot survive without human support.

Since the enemy launched a full-scale offensive, the lives of thousands of animals in Ukraine have been on the brink. Many of them have been left alone, abandoned. “They, like people, dream of shelter, of warmth, hope, and love, but they can’t ask for it like we can,” says Serhii. When his team leaves for another trip to the war zone, they know that among the rubble and smoke and ash, there are those waiting for their last hope of rescue.

A close-knit team of volunteers, including many young people, sets up special “feeders” in cities where people are not allowed to enter and animals are left without access to food and water. They have set up hundreds of such stations that save the lives of four-legged animals. Children, volunteers, and the military help maintain these feeding stations. Serhii Ludensky believes that even in times like these, when the war leaves no hope, humanity should not fade away.

Serhii’s friendly volunteer team has gone through many challenges, but each story is special. Each dog, cat, horse or even a small bird from the frontline areas becomes for them not just an animal, but a life that they managed to save. “The war continues, but there are still people who cannot pass by abandoned souls, we will continue to help,” Serhii says.

Serhii recalls one girl from Chasovyi Yar who asked him to find her cat. She had moved away, leaving her pet behind, and asked every day if she would be able to take it back. But when Serhii found the animal, he realized that the cat had not survived the horrors. This moment still hurts him…

To the sound of explosions, in the face of danger, where the war leaves no place for humanity, Serhii Ludenskiy and his team become the light that leads those who have no voice to ask for help. They do not just save lives, they restore faith in humanity, even among animals.

Everyday struggle for every life

The “Fidelity” animal shelter in Dnipro takes care of four-legged animals that who have found themselves in difficult life situations. Both former stray animals and those abandoned by their owners live here. Each of them has its own difficult story, but they all have one thing in common: they need love and care.

The shelter’s volunteers work almost seven days a week. They help animals not only to survive but also to find new families where their four-legged friends can start a new, happy life. Every day, volunteers and veterinarians work together to ensure that animals with comfortable conditions, quality food and necessary treatment.

Among the shelter’s residents are dogs and cats who have suffered physical and psychological trauma, but they are gradually recovering thanks to care and support. There are a lot of animals, who were abandoned by people who left during the war to save their lives. In such cases four-legged friends turned out to be unnecessary…

Anyone can join in to help the “Fidelity” shelter: come to visit, take an animal for fostering or become part of a friendly team of volunteers. You can also support the shelter financially or help with the purchase of necessary items. Every contribution, small or large, is very valuable, because love for animals really works wonders.

Thanks to the support of caring people, animals that were previously abandoned or had serious problems, get a chance for a new life. The shelter believes that every animal deserves warmth and love, and new owners will definitely be found for each of these tailed friends.

A chance for a happy life

In a small shelter “Chance” in Pidhorodne, Dnipropetrovs’k oblast, among wooden houses and spacious enclosures, Nataliia starts her morning every day with caring for those who cannot ask for help themselves. Here live cats and dogs who have survived the cold, hunger and even the fear of war. Some of them were brought by the military from the war zones where they were left without homes and protection.

“When we get new animals, we immediately take them to the vet and check their health. We want to be sure that they can live without pain and fear alongside others,” Nataliia says, gently stroking an old dog that she recently rescued from the street.

The mini-shelter is a real refuge for stray and displaced animals. Here they are not only a roof over their heads, but also the love they have lost. In specially equipped rooms for cats and spacious enclosures for dogs are always warm and and cozy.

“We do not choose whom to save – we help everyone who needs warmth and care. Their eyes tell stories that pierce to the core. Together we can give these animals a chance for a happy life,” adds the owner of the shelter, Nataliia.

“Let’s go home”: the sweetest words for those who are still waiting

The greatest happiness for volunteers is when their four-legged friends find new homes. Children, military personnel, people of different professions come to shelters with their families in search of a friend who will give them his or her devotion and love. One of these happy moments happened to cat Murchik, who was rescued from the rubble, but for a long time he was afraid to approach people. However, when his new owner came to pick him up, he immediately reached out for his hands, as if he knew he was not alone anymore.

Every life saved is another piece of kindness that connects this war-torn world. The stories of these animals are not just stories, they are symbols of the fact that the human heart is capable of the deepest deeds, on unconditional love that does not leave the helpless alone.

These touching stories of rescue and selfless struggle for every life prove that animals are not just our friends, but those who remind us of the deep value of life. They teach us endurance, loyalty, and show us that in a world of chaos, there is always room for goodness.

Olena Rusina, Serhii Ludenskiy, Maryna Shazhko and other war heroes are people whose hearts beat in unison with every rescued soul. Their work is a symbol of hope that humanity will never fade away even when there are so many challenges on the horizon.

Thanks to these dedicated people, even the most destitute animals find support, love and a second chance at a happy life.It’s more than just saving animals – it’s about saving of our own humanity.

AUTHOR: Anastasiia Kovalchuk

Photos provided by the heroes of the publication