Ukraine Updates
July 20, 2026
While the war continues, so does the determination of the people on the ground who refuse to leave animals behind. Through PETA’s Global Compassion Fund, which supports critical animal rescue and relief efforts worldwide, and its partnership with Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK), animals across Ukraine are receiving the care, protection, and second chances they desperately need. Bolstered by donations from kind donors like you to the Global Compassion Fund, the team can continue reaching animals who otherwise might have no chance of survival.
Two tiny hedgehogs recently found themselves in a life-or-death situation in Ukraine. Trapped in anti-drone netting stretched above a roadway, they were hopelessly entangled and unable to escape on their own. But PETA-backed Animal Rescue Kharkiv’s rescue team spotted them just in time.
The team carefully freed them, transported them for care, and monitored their recovery. After treatment and rest, both hedgehogs made a full recovery.
Their story is a powerful reminder that war affects everyone—from humans, dogs, and cats, to the smallest among us. It’s also a testament to the crucial work Animal Rescue Kharkiv carries out every day, which they can only do with your help.
A Safe Haven for Dogs to Heal
While PETA-backed rescue teams continue responding to emergencies across Ukraine, Animal Rescue Kharkiv’s ever-expanding Peace Sanctuary offers something many rescued animals haven’t experienced in months, or even years: safety. Made possible through support from kind donations to PETA’s Global Compassion Fund, the sanctuary has become a lifeline for dogs saved from war-torn areas, abandonment, or life on the streets.
This summer, the sanctuary’s newly expanded enclosures have given rescued dogs more space to run, play, and socialize. Large, shaded areas help keep them comfortable during the hottest months, while dedicated caregivers provide enrichment, medical attention, and plenty of love.
The transformation has been remarkable. Many dogs arrived at the sanctuary fearful, stressed, and traumatized. Now, animals who once avoided human contact are seeking affection, playing with other dogs, and beginning to trust again.
For these survivors, Animal Rescue Kharkiv’s Peace Sanctuary has become more than a shelter—it’s a place where they can simply be dogs again.
Preparing for the Winter Ahead
Even with ongoing rescue operations around the clock, Animal Rescue Kharkiv’s team is racing to prepare the Peace Sanctuary for another harsh Ukrainian winter. In parts of Ukraine, winter temperatures can plunge well below freezing, making improvements to the shelter essential.
Summer is a critical window for construction and renovation projects. Current improvements include new tiling in outdoor enclosures and a significantly upgraded drainage system designed to keep living areas as clean, safe, and comfortable as possible during wet and freezing conditions.
These crucial upgrades can’t wait until winter arrives. Every donation helps improve the sanctuary’s infrastructure, ensuring that animals who have already been through the trauma of war have a warm, peaceful refuge from whatever lies ahead.
Hope in the Midst of Conflict
Every PETA-backed rescue is proof that kindness can reach even the most dangerous places—and that hope can survive, one animal at a time.
Please donate to PETA’s Global Compassion Fund to help support this indispensable work in war-torn Ukraine.
Donate Now!
PETA’s Global Compassion Fund is supported exclusively by the contributions of kind individuals like you. Your gift is helping PETA entities and partners create positive, sustainable change in corners of the Earth where animals desperately need assistance—and may have no other hope.