Svetlana and her Animal Shelter
When we set out to produce Saving the Animals of Ukraine, our goal was to shed light on a silent tragedy unfolding in the shadow of war: the millions of pets and wildlife left vulnerable in conflict zones. Beyond the headlines and political debates, war creates non-human casualties that rely entirely on human grace to survive. In Saving the Animals of Ukraine, we featured everyday citizens stepping into harm's way, risking everything to offer sanctuary to animals in need. Even now, two years after the film was released, we are discovering more stories of these brave Ukrainians.
Operating in Vinnytsia, a city roughly 130 miles southwest of Kyiv, Svetlana Tkachuk embodies the unyielding spirit featured throughout our documentary. What began 15 years ago as a modest personal effort to rescue stray kittens expanded dramatically on February 24, 2022. As chaos erupted and families were forced to flee, thousands of pets were left behind along roads, in abandoned homes, and at transport hubs. Refusing to turn away, Svetlana opened her doors to every animal she could reach. Today, her sanctuary houses roughly 240 dogs and 220 cats, many elderly, blind, or recovering from severe wartime injuries—alongside over 100 animals she feeds in the broader community.
Her daily reality reflects the immense physical and emotional toll endured by independent rescuers across Ukraine. Starting at 5:00 AM every single day, Svetlana cooks massive pots of kasha on a wood-burning stove, cleans enclosures, and provides hands-on rehabilitation for amputee and disabled animals. Operating with scarce resources and little formal foundation aid, she relies almost entirely on grassroots support to afford vaccinations, food, and medical supplies.
Svetlana’s story is a living testament to the central message of Saving the Animals of Ukraine: that even in the darkest hours of human conflict, compassion refuses to surrender. Stories like hers remind us why telling these tales matters, not just to document history, but to support the real-life heroes keeping humanity alive on the ground.
