Local organisations are caring for abandoned pets.

In the town of Druzhkivka, close to the front-line of the fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces, a local animal protection organisation is caring for abandoned pets.

Despite the constant threat of Russian shelling, Druzhkivka - Territory of Goodness has been providing medical care, food and sterilisation for stray animals and trying to rehome abandoned pets.

Since the start of the fighting, the population of the town in the northern Donetsk region has dropped by more than 70 per cent. Residents left their homes to move to safer regions away from the fighting. Many could not take their pets with them.

Julia Biloborodko, one of the people who has stayed, first started working with Druzhkivka - Territory of Goodness before the full-scale Russian invasion.

Julia said: "It all began about four years ago when I found and, with the help of local volunteers, rehomed a thrown-away, unhappy German Shepherd into a wonderful family.

“At that time, it seemed so easy and simple, like we could help all the destitute homeless animals this way. But over time, I realised it wasn't that simple, and I can't just stop now.”

With the growth in the number of stray animals, Druzhkivka - Territory of Goodness has had to construct more shelters and increase the amount of medical treatment and food it provides. Julia now feeds around 60 stray animals which live on the streets of the town.

Julia said: "We need to find families for them, although there aren't many left in our city anymore. It's very dangerous here.”

To support the work done by Julia and others in Druzhkivka, U-Hearts Foundation provided 350kg of cat food and 350kg of dog food in October.

Julia added: “Why do I do this? Because they are defenseless, because it's heartbreaking, because they don't deserve this treatment, and because every life on this planet is valuable, even if it's a cat or a dog.”

Image (C) U-Hearts Foundation