One year on from the invasion of Ukraine, new accounts have emerged from the owners of pets that have fled the warzone and made the incredible journey to reach safety in the UK.
The Blue Cross, the premier British animal welfare charity, has been supporting owners and pets as they have arrived from Ukraine. Animals coming into the country all need to spend a spell in quarantine, several stayed at the charity’s Hertfordshire centre.
Since then, Ukrainian pets and owners staying in the UK have been reunited, and are settling into their new lives together in the UK.
Shortly after conflict broke out, Alina Fadeeva was attempting to flee Ukraine with her two cats, Sonya and Marsh, when she met Liam Stratton.
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Liam, from Britain, was at university in the city of Dnipro. Having recently adopted a blind rescue dog, Lucy, from a local rescue centre, he was determined that both he and Alina would make it to the UK with their animals.
Lucy the dog had already had a turbulent start in life after she was blinded during an acid attack as a puppy. Wanting to give Lucy the "life she deserved", Liam and Alina collaborated to get their beloved pets the necessary documents and visas to gain entry into the UK.
Alina fostered Lucy while he was away getting the necessary documents and vaccinations for Lucy and a visa and paperwork for Alina and her cats.
They travelled out of the country and across to the UK together and all three pets were quarantined at the Blue Cross in Hertfordshire - and then settled in North Yorkshire.
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Anna Wade, Blue Cross Public Affairs Manager said: "The war is having such a devastating effect across Ukraine and of course our thoughts are with all those suffering and struggling at this terrible time.
"As a pet charity, we immediately stepped in to help wherever we could. Both in providing quarantine for those who managed to flee with their pets and for those who have stayed with their pets and rely on support from charities.
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"We are also helping the charity partners to care for hundreds of pets without owners fending for themselves in sub-zero temperatures.”
As well as support from the Hertfordshire centre, the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 prompted the Blue Cross to launch an urgent appeal to support to pets left in Ukraine and for pet owners fleeing the country with their animals.
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Since launching, the Blue Cross Ukraine Pet Welfare Fund has since raised over £350k. All of this money has been used to support four charity partners in Ukraine and over the border.
Anna continued: "It is such a happy ever after for those pets reunited with their loving owners in the UK but there is still so much work to do overseas.
"The compassion and dedication of the charity partners on the ground, heading into Ukraine to rescue pets and care for them day to day is overwhelming."
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