Ukraine's Animals in Wartime and Recovery
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine beginning February 2022 has caused an unprecedented humanitarian and animal welfare crisis. Animals — companion animals, livestock, zoo animals, and wildlife — have suffered directly from bombing, displacement, abandonment, and disruption of veterinary and food supply systems. As Ukraine enters phases of recovery in liberated areas, rebuilding animal welfare infrastructure alongside human infrastructure is a critical but often overlooked priority.
This page addresses both the ongoing crisis welfare response and the longer-term reconstruction of Ukraine's animal welfare capacity.
Millions
Companion animals affected by conflict
~1M+
Livestock lost in conflict zones
100+
Zoos and wildlife facilities affected
Thousands
Animals evacuated by rescue organizations
Companion Animals: Rescue, Displacement, and Abandonment
The Scale of the Crisis
Ukraine had one of Europe's highest rates of pet ownership before the war. When millions of Ukrainians fled their homes, millions of companion animals were affected — some evacuated with their owners, many left behind, and many abandoned as families could not care for them while fleeing or living in shelters.
Animals Left in Conflict Zones
Abandoned animals: In cities under siege (Mariupol, Kherson, Kharkiv, Bakhmut), dogs and cats were left behind when residents evacuated. These animals faced bombing, starvation, dehydration, and injury. Volunteer rescue organizations operated under fire to rescue trapped animals from destroyed buildings and to feed those unable to be evacuated.
Rescue Organizations
Extraordinary volunteer response: Ukrainian animal rescue volunteers — including organizations like UAnimals, Sirius Shelter (Kyiv), and hundreds of local groups — mounted an extraordinary response under extremely dangerous conditions. International organizations including the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), World Animal Protection, and HSI provided funding, supplies, and coordination support.
Cross-Border Movement
Ukraine's EU neighbors — particularly Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova — received millions of Ukrainian refugees, many with pets. EU countries waived standard pet import requirements to facilitate safe passage, but managing the health and welfare of large numbers of animals crossing borders under crisis conditions created significant challenges. Cases of disease introduction and overwhelmed shelter systems were documented.
Reunification Efforts
Animal microchipping, which was advancing in Ukraine before the war, proved critical for reuniting separated animals with their owners. Organizations created digital registries of found and lost animals. Despite these efforts, many animals were permanently separated from their families.
Zoo and Wildlife Facility Response
Zoos in Conflict Zones
Critical situations: Zoos in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and other cities faced direct bombing, power outages cutting life-support systems, loss of staff, and inability to obtain food for animals. The Feldman Ecopark near Kharkiv was particularly severely damaged by shelling, with some animals killed and others requiring emergency evacuation.
Wildlife Sanctuary Responses
International coordination: The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) coordinated emergency transfers of zoo animals to safer facilities in EU countries — lions, tigers, bears, and other large animals were transported across borders under emergency protocols. This unprecedented operation saved hundreds of animals.
Wildlife Impact
Ukraine's war has had complex impacts on wildlife:
- Active combat zones have become de facto no-go areas for hunters and poachers, allowing some wildlife recovery
- Landmines and unexploded ordnance pose severe long-term risks to wildlife in former combat areas
- Environmental contamination (fuel spills, chemical releases) affects habitats and species
- The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023 caused catastrophic flooding of the Dnipro floodplain, devastating wildlife including protected species
- Increased poaching in areas with reduced law enforcement presence
Livestock: Food Security and Animal Welfare
Direct Livestock Losses
Ukraine was one of Europe's major agricultural producers — a "breadbasket" for wheat, sunflower oil, and significant livestock products. The war has caused:
- Direct livestock deaths from bombing and shelling
- Livestock abandoned in occupied or contested zones without care
- Loss of feed supplies and disrupted supply chains
- Loss of veterinary services in occupied areas
- Farmer displacement leaving animals without care
Welfare crisis in occupied areas: In Russian-occupied territories, Ukrainian livestock welfare standards (which were being developed in alignment with EU standards) have been replaced or simply abandoned. Reports of looting of livestock and damage to agricultural infrastructure are widespread.
Recovery in Liberated Areas
Veterinary emergency response: FAO, OIE, and international veterinary organizations have provided emergency livestock health support in liberated areas — vaccines, veterinary supplies, and training to prevent disease outbreaks that could compound food security problems. Animal welfare is beginning to be integrated into these recovery programs.
Ukraine's Pre-War Animal Welfare Progress
Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine had been making meaningful animal welfare progress:
- The 2006 Animal Protection Law provided a legal framework, though enforcement was inconsistent
- A growing NGO sector — UAnimals, several regional groups — was building public awareness and advocacy capacity
- EU Association Agreement requirements were driving some alignment of animal welfare standards with EU norms
- Growing urban middle class showed increasing concern for companion animal welfare
- Movement away from stray dog culling toward TNVR approaches in some cities
EU candidacy as welfare driver: Ukraine's EU candidate status (granted 2022) creates long-term incentives to align with EU animal welfare standards. EU accession requirements will eventually necessitate significant reforms to livestock welfare, slaughter standards, and companion animal management — providing a policy framework for post-war recovery.
Rebuilding Animal Welfare Infrastructure
Priority Areas for Recovery
- Veterinary capacity rebuilding: Many veterinary professionals have left Ukraine; rebuilding the veterinary workforce is essential for both livestock health and companion animal welfare
- Shelter infrastructure: Animal shelters in affected regions need reconstruction and sustainable operational support
- Mine clearance for wildlife: Long-term demining of former combat areas is essential for wildlife and domestic animal safety
- Livestock welfare restoration: Restoring EU-aligned livestock welfare standards in liberated areas
- Stray animal management: Expanding TNVR programs to manage stray populations humanely
- Environmental rehabilitation: Addressing war-related environmental contamination affecting wildlife habitats
Organizations Active in Recovery
| Organization | Focus |
|---|
| UAnimals | Ukrainian NGO; companion animal rescue, advocacy, evacuation |
| IFAW | Emergency animal rescue funding and coordination |
| World Animal Protection | Livestock and companion animal emergency response |
| EAZA | Zoo animal evacuation coordination |
| FAO | Livestock and food system recovery |
| Four Paws International | Stray animal management, zoo animal rescue |
How to Help
- Donate to UAnimals — Ukraine's largest and most effective animal welfare NGO operating throughout the conflict
- Support IFAW's Ukraine emergency fund for ongoing rescue operations
- Advocate for inclusion of animal welfare in Ukraine reconstruction planning and international aid packages
- Support organizations helping Ukrainian refugees keep their pets in host countries
- Contribute to organizations working on environmental recovery, which directly benefits wildlife
Long view: Ukraine's EU candidacy is the most important structural factor for long-term animal welfare improvement. Supporting Ukraine's EU integration pathway supports its alignment with European welfare standards — with implications for millions of animals for decades to come.