Hundreds Of Animals Died In Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, Charity Asks For Green Corridors To Evacuate

Ukrainian soldiers joke with animals. (Instagram/UAnimals)

JAKARTA - A Ukrainian charity is battling to protect the country's animals from the impact of the Russian invasion, hoping for a green corridor when hundreds of animals die.

UAnimals have uncovered a series of rights abuses across the country - perpetrated not only against civilians, but also against the creatures they are forced to leave behind.

"When the war started, we realized every day that it was getting worse," said Olha Chevhaniuk, co-founder and CEO of the rescue force.

"Russia shoots adults, children and even animals. They have no moral value at all," he said.

Operating across a network of bomb shelters, abandoned towns and bombarded cities, UAnimals find and rescue abandoned creatures caught in conflict.

Their members scour the country in search of at-risk animals, some of whom have been without food, water and shelter for weeks.

"We found a sanctuary in Borodyanka where the animals were left in locked cages," continued Chevhaniuk.

"There were 485 dogs there at the start of the war. Yesterday our volunteers managed to reach it and only 150 dogs are still alive. No food, no water. Hundreds of people have just died, suffering," he said.

Ukrainian soldiers joke with dogs. (Instagram/UAnimals)

The organization, says it is a familiar story across the country, where thousands of animals remain trapped because of the conflict.

UAnimals called for so-called 'green corridors' to be established, demilitarized zones that would act as evacuation routes for some of Ukraine's threatened creatures.

"Right now it's only after our soldiers can reach this area that we can deliver food, find cages, provide transportation, vets and whatever else we need to save animals," Chevhaniuk said.

"Having green corridors to animal shelters is very important and will save lives."

While many of the UAnimals teams remain underground, one of their founders, Oleksandr Todorchuk, has joined the Ukrainian army.

He was one of many civilians who took up arms after the Russian invasion. However, despite recent successes on the battlefield, Chevhaniuk and his team know that the only real solution to war is peace.

"We can only stop animal suffering if we stop human suffering first," he said.

"I believe in victory. I just hope it will come as soon as possible," he hoped.