Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine — ongoing since February 2022 — has created one of the world's most severe animal welfare emergencies, affecting companion animals, livestock, and wildlife across a country at war.
Ukraine's animal welfare situation in 2025 is dominated by the ongoing consequences of Russia's invasion: millions of displaced companion animals, catastrophic livestock losses in occupied and conflict-affected territories, wildlife impacted by artillery, chemical contamination, and habitat destruction, and a welfare infrastructure severely strained by wartime conditions. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian animal welfare organizations have shown extraordinary resilience, and international support has helped maintain welfare programs in accessible areas.
Ukraine's companion animal crisis has been among the most visible of the war's animal welfare impacts. Mass displacement of humans led to abandonment of pets; war zones saw animals left without food, water, or shelter; and the fear and noise of bombing caused acute psychological trauma for millions of animals. International rescue organizations coordinated evacuations of companion animals alongside human refugees.
Ukrainian welfare organizations including UAnimals, UAWA (Ukrainian Animal Welfare Association), and dozens of local shelters maintained operations throughout the conflict, often under extremely dangerous conditions. Volunteer networks rescued animals from abandoned homes in battle zones. Fundraising from international animal lovers provided critical resources.
Ukraine's pre-war livestock sector — a major European agricultural producer — has suffered severe welfare consequences. In occupied territories and conflict zones: farms have been shelled and burned (animals dying in fires or from wounds); farmers displaced, leaving animals without care; mines and unexploded ordnance create ongoing hazards for grazing livestock; and supply chains for feed, veterinary medicines, and processing have been disrupted. The UN FAO has documented mass livestock mortality in conflict-affected oblasts.
Ukraine's wildlife has been impacted by: artillery and bomb damage creating direct trauma; chemical contamination of water bodies; disturbance and displacement from habitat; and the Kakhovka Dam destruction (June 2023), which caused massive flooding in southern Ukraine affecting millions of wild and domestic animals and destroying critical wetland habitats.
The June 2023 destruction of the Kakhovka Dam — causing catastrophic flooding in Nova Kakhovka, Kherson, and surrounding areas — constitutes one of the worst animal welfare disasters of the war. Millions of animals drowned, including livestock, companion animals, and wildlife. The Dnipro floodplain — a critical bird migration route and biodiversity hotspot — was severely damaged. International wildlife and welfare organizations coordinated emergency rescue operations.
Despite wartime conditions, Ukraine's welfare infrastructure has shown remarkable resilience. UAnimals — Ukraine's largest welfare organization — has maintained operations throughout the war, conducting rescue, shelter, and advocacy work. Veterinary services continue in government-controlled areas. International organizations including Four Paws Ukraine have supported rescue and welfare programs.
Ukraine's animal welfare depends directly on the war's trajectory. Even in currently stable government-controlled areas, welfare infrastructure is strained. Post-war reconstruction will require significant investment in welfare infrastructure rebuilding: shelters, veterinary services, livestock recovery programs, and wildlife habitat restoration. International welfare solidarity with Ukraine has been substantial — reflecting the global animal welfare community's recognition of the emergency.