In the middle of a war zone in Ukraine, Yulia did something extraordinary.
As Russian forces moved closer to her hometown of Dobropillia in the Donetsk region, she and her sister made the painful decision to flee. But they didn’t go alone. Yulia couldn’t bear to leave behind the animals she had been feeding on the streets — the forgotten ones, the ones with no voice and no place to go.
So she gathered them. Every dog. Every cat. Every soul she could reach. In total, they rescued 50 dogs and 57 cats, loading them up and escaping the only home they had ever known.
Now, they’re in a remote area far from the frontline. It’s safer — but it’s not easy. With no access to basic services, they are living alongside the animals, doing their best to create shelter from scraps and donations. You can see in the photos: pens thrown together with wire and wood, clothing hanging behind makeshift walls, a handful of materials bought with the little money they’ve raised.
This isn’t just a rescue. Can you imagine:
- Rounding up 107 animals, including many homeless animals
- Fleeing to a field in the middle of nowhere
- Building a shelter from scratch
- Freezing temps can arrive within 10 weeks
Yulia is doing everything she can, not for herself — but for the animals who trusted her enough to follow her into the unknown. She’s hoping to raise enough to build proper pens, safe shelters, roofs to keep the rain off and true protection before the brutal Ukrainian winter arrives. Even just one panel of fencing, one doghouse, one sheet of roofing — every small donation brings them closer to safety and dignity.
She didn’t leave anyone behind. Not one. Now it’s our turn to stand beside her.
If you can give, please do. If you can’t, please share her story. Every act of kindness matters. Donations to our Emergency Fund will be used to help build this shelter before winter. So much is needed: walls, roofs, straw bedding, food, and veterinary medicines.
How You Can Help
Tax deductible donations to build the shelter can be made on the Harmony Fund’s website. Your support will give animals a safe place to heal and thrive.
