Ukrainians and Their Pets: Unbreakable Bond Despite Blackouts and War
In the heart of Ukraine, where war has brought relentless Russian attacks on the power grid, millions face daily blackouts lasting up to 16 hours or more. Freezing temperatures drop below -13°C (-8°F), heat vanishes, and lights go out. Yet, amid this hardship, Ukrainians refuse to let their pets suffer. Stories from Kyiv, Kharkiv, and beyond reveal an unbreakable human-animal bond that shines brighter than any outage. Why do Ukrainians care so deeply for pets during blackouts and war? Pets provide emotional support, warmth (literally and figuratively), and a sense of normal life when everything else feels chaotic. Dogs sleep in beds as living hot water bottles, cats wear handmade sweaters from old clothes, and families share scarce food. This care persists because Ukrainians see pets as family — not optional during crisis. Surveys from early war years showed over 90% of pet owners refused to evacuate without their animals, a trend that continues today. How do they manage? Without...