Odesa elderly residents care for stray animals during war

In the war-torn city of Odesa, elderly residents are staying behind to care for the growing population of abandoned pets and community strays. Despite frequent heavy bombardments and air raid sirens, volunteers like 74-year-old Olga continue to feed dozens of cats roaming through debris and burnt-out buildings.

Before the conflict, the Naturewatch Foundation estimated Ukraine had a stray dog population of up to 200,000, along with many stray cats. Since the war began, thousands more animals have been lost or abandoned. Experts note that many residents who remain in conflict zones often dedicate their limited resources to feeding dozens of animals to ensure their survival.