Drone Used to Evacuate Stray Cat and Dog from Ukrainian Front Lines

Soldiers from Ukraine’s 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade airlifted a cat named Barsik and a dog named Zagybluk away from the front lines in war-torn Ukraine earlier this month, the New York Post reported. The troops placed Barsik and Zagybluk in special breathable pouches, tied them to a drone, and evacuated them from the battlefield. 2 miles, before landing them in a gentle way.

Barsik and Zagybluk had been regulars around the troops of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade for two years. “The guys put them in special breathable pouches, carefully tied them to a drone, and evacuated them,” said Nadiya Zamryga, the brigade’s press officer. The stress from the drone flight passed very quickly for Barsik and Zagybluk.

The soldiers are not willing to give up Barsik and Zagybluk as comrades, Zamryga stated. Barsik the cat was recognized by his cat dad, a soldier who had been wounded and is now recovering. Barsik and his cat dad soldier are about to reunite.

Zagybluk the dog is living with troops at a rear position. A dog named Zagybluk and a cat named Barsik were stranded on the front lines in war-torn Ukraine before their evacuation. Many refugees have been forced to leave their pets behind at the border because the pets do not meet European Union criteria requiring vaccination, microchipping, and a rabies test.

UAnimals is one of Ukraine’s biggest animal rights groups. Inga Sekada is the director of operations at UAnimals. UAnimals has evacuated more than 10,000 animals since the start of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine, including cats, dogs, tigers, camels, horses, cows, raccoons, wolves, donkeys, porcupines, lemurs, sheep, and bees, Sekada said.

M. As many as 500 to 600 animals can be treated during a single veterinary mission by UAnimals, she added.