The soldiers of Ukraine’s 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade knew combat medic Dr. Olena Yeryomenko’s rule: “Until I leave food for every animal, we won’t go further.”

Even as drones circled overhead and shells exploded around her squadron in the war-torn eastern region, “Leleka”—as she was affectionately known—still scooped up every frightened, injured or starving animal she could find and left food for those who might be cowering in bombed-out buildings until she could come back for them. As soon as she had a moment’s break from treating the humans who needed her, she raced back to the animals who did.

On June 29, she had just helped evacuate 42 dogs from Sumy and was rushing to aid a wounded soldier when drone fire took her life.

I was one of the lucky people who got to witness Leleka’s bravery, selflessness and determination firsthand. Since just three days after the start of the conflict, the other volunteers of Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK) and I have been working to save the war’s forgotten victims: animals left to fend for themselves after their families were killed or forced to flee without them and those whose guardians are desperate for us to get them out.

So far, with help from PETA Germany and funding from PETA’s Global Compassion Fund, we’ve managed to evacuate more than 26,000 animals. But we could not have done it without soldiers like Leleka, who was constantly on the lookout for animals in peril and willing to lead us straight into the most dangerous areas to reach them.

Animals don’t start wars, but they suffer just as acutely as humans in them. Leleka had a special gift for coaxing terrified dogs out of their hiding places in the rubble and bundling distressed cats into blankets to help them feel more secure. There were also the injured swan trapped in the middle of a frozen lake; Mryia, a cow with a deep wound in her side and a severely damaged udder, likely caused by shrapnel; and a family of nine pigs and eight piglets who were in danger of starving to death in their abandoned village just a mile from the frontline. We transferred one man to safety with the four goats, 14 hens and dog he refused to leave and rescued a woman named Inna along with the 20 dogs she was struggling to care for in her ruined neighborhood just as it was once again pummeled by gunfire.

Countless animals and no small number of humans have a second chance at life because of Leleka.

With PETA Germany’s help, against all odds, we’ve been able to reunite about 60% of the animals we’ve rescued with their guardians who fled to different parts of Europe and transfer many others to partner shelters in other countries.

Thousands more remain in our care at PETA’s Global Compassion Fund–supported veterinary clinic and shelters, including the sprawling PEACE Sanctuary, which provides hope and healing to horses, donkeys, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, dogs and cats who would otherwise have none.

Our work will continue for as long as we are needed, because it must. Like Leleka, we must never stop fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves.

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Igor Sobko is the CEO of ARK and has been rescuing animals for over a decade.

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