Khrystyna Drahomaretska, a former architect from Ukraine, shifted her career to animal rescue following Russia’s full-scale invasion. She operates under dangerous conditions, evacuating and caring for stray and abandoned animals near conflict zones, often risking her life amid shelling and mines. She founded the Under the Sun shelter in Odesa, which cares for hundreds of dogs, many of whom are sterilized, vaccinated, and adopted abroad. Despite offers to work abroad, she chose to stay in Ukraine to support her family and fight in her own way, initially volunteering for the army before focusing on animal rescue. Her work includes transporting animals to Europe for adoption and bringing back food to war-affected areas, while also running sterilization programs to control stray populations.

Drahomaretska highlights the severe challenges faced by animals and rescuers in war, including injuries from shrapnel, malnutrition, and psychological trauma akin to PTSD. She notes the complex realities of war, where soldiers sometimes must kill animals for strategic survival, and many pets are abandoned or left chained for protection. The animal rescue community in Ukraine is largely informal, with many shelters unregistered and under-resourced. Despite these hardships, Drahomaretska’s team continues evacuation missions and rehabilitation efforts, supported by international partners and donors. Her story underscores the humanitarian dimension of animal rescue in war, revealing the emotional and physical toll on both animals and rescuers.