Help rescue animals from the front line
The story behind the collection
When Russia invades and forces people to flee for their lives, taking their pets is often not an option. Some refuse to go, staying in danger rather than abandoning the animals they love; others, to survive, have no choice but to escape alone. The heartbreaking result: large numbers of Ukrainian animals — cats, dogs, and farm animals — are left near the front lines, without homes or owners, hungry and often in need of urgent medical care.
The story behind the collection
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the 12 Vartovykh (12 Guards) Charitable Foundation has been rescuing and evacuating animals from areas near the front line, giving them the treatment and rehabilitation they need, and finding them loving homes. Every month, the team evacuates between 400 and 800 animals.
The story behind the collection
People and their pets belong together. The Companion Collection 🐾, with illustrations by Oliana Moroz, comes in pairs — one for the animal and one for its human. From Oct. 1 - Oct. 22, 100% of the collection's profits will go to 12 Vartovykh. We are aiming to raise $10,000 to help them rescue animals from danger, keep them healthy and alive, and find them loving homes.
IN THE ARTIST'S WORDS
— Oliana Moroz
Oliana Moroz is a contemporary artist and illustrator from Donetsk Oblast. She grew up among animals, and as a child she rescued and cared for abandoned animals around her home — a home which is now a war zone, and from which 12 Vartovykh now rescues abandoned animals.
Now, Oliana draws on memories of her home for inspiration. In her work, people, animals, and plants exist together. She lives with her bull terrier, Ban, and a 13-year-old cat called Zhankod.
When Russia invades and forces people to flee their homes to save their lives, taking their pets with them is often not an option. Some refuse to leave, staying in danger rather than abandoning the animals they love. Others face an unbearable choice — to save their own lives, they have no option but to escape alone. The heartbreaking truth is that large numbers of Ukrainian animals — cats, dogs, and farm animals — are left near the front lines, without homes or owners. The animals are hungry, homeless, and often in need of urgent medical care.
This has become a widespread issue in Ukraine, and many Kyiv Independent staff members have pets adopted from front-line areas. The volunteers who help them have to drive into dangerous areas near the front line, put themselves at risk, and often go into debt in order to give them the medical treatment they need.
No animal should have to suffer because of Russia's war.
The 12 Vartovykh (12 Guards) Charitable Foundation was established in 2019 with a focus on reviving cultural heritage. But, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the foundation has operated as a comprehensive animal welfare organization — rescuing and evacuating animals from areas near the front line, giving them the treatment and rehabilitation they need, and finding them loving homes, bypassing shelters.
The team also evacuates families with their pets and conducts regular neuter missions for stray animals in local communities, covering an average of around 10,000 animals a year. Its main areas of operation are front-line territories, particularly in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson oblasts.
In June 2023, Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka dam, flooding towns and villages across Kherson Oblast. 12 Vartovykh coordinated the animal rescue there, and around 2,500 animals were saved that month alone.
Another of its most dangerous missions was the evacuation of a farm in Udachne, Donetsk Oblast, in January 2025. The farm was just a few kilometers from Russian positions. The team got out around 100 animals and two people.
As the team puts it, "We rescue all living things. People, farm animals — we've rescued everything from horses, cows and donkeys to countless goats and even chickens; wild animals, including fox cubs, swans and red-listed birds; and domestic animals — cats and dogs."
The foundation's team drives into combat zones, risks their lives and goes into debt, all to rescue animals put in danger by Russia's war. From Oct. 1 to Oct. 22, 100% of the profit from this collection, plus all tips, will go to 12 Vartovykh. We aim to raise $10,000 to help them get animals out of danger, keep them alive and find them homes.
From Oct. 1 - Oct. 22, 100% of the profits from the Companion Collection 🐾 will go to 12 Vartovykh, to help them rescue animals from danger, keep them healthy and alive, and find them loving homes.
Every month, the team evacuates between 400 and 800 animals — mainly cats and dogs, but also farm animals — and takes 50–80 new animals fully into its care. In 2025 alone, over 8,000 animals passed through their care, and nearly 3,000 already have this year.
All this has high costs. Your money will help cover:
You can give any amount directly on this page. Please add a comment such as "For UA animals," and we'll make sure your support goes to the animals. If you have any questions, email us at store@kyivindependent.com.
To donate directly to the foundation, you'll find all the details on the 12 Vartovykh website.
Yes, of course! You can find the We Are Companions T-Shirt — Dog Person Edition and the We Are Companions T-Shirt — Cat Person Edition in our store.
